Amarillo Men in Mid-30s Face Five Years for Aiming Laser Pointer at Helicopter

AMARILLO—Two Amarillo men face up to five years in federal prison and a $250k fine after pointing a green laser pointer at a helicopter. 

Matthew George Dodgen, 35, and Christoper Anthony Cantrell, 34, both pled guilty to charges of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and aiding and abetting on Nov. 26 in U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson's court. 

According to documents filed in the cases, on June 1, 2014, at approximately 12:56 a.m., a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter was hit with a green, ground-based laser while flying over Amarillo. The DPS pilot and co-pilot traced the laser’s origin to two subjects, later identified as Dodgen, 35, and Cantrell, 34, standing near a van parked at a residence near SW 12th and Washington Street. 

The helicopter’s camera recorded Dodgen and Cantrell as they ran to their van and drove away. Officers with the Amarillo Police Department, who had been called to assist, quickly located and stopped the vehicle. Dodgen was the driver and Cantrell was the passenger. A laser was located on the floorboard between Cantrell’s feet.

Both men admitted pointing the laser at the helicopter. The laser’s light hit the pilot’s eyes directly for a split second, and he had to divert his eyes to avoid another direct hit from the laser. It affected his vision for approximately 20 seconds.

Sentencing is set for Jan. 21, 2015, before Judge Robinson. Dodgen remains on bond and Cantrell is in custody.

The FBI led the investigation with assistance from the Texas DPS and the Amarillo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto is prosecuting.