PRESTON, Minn. — A Chatfield man has been fined $150 for aiming a laser beam at a med-evac helicopter. Steven Clifford Johnson, age 44, was also sentenced to one year in jail by Fillmore County Judge Jeremy Clinefelter, but the judge waived the jail time if Johnson doesn’t do it again and otherwise stays out of trouble. In an unusual Alford plea, Johnson did not admit guilt but agreed to accept punishment as if he had. The incident was in October 2024. The Mayo One helicopter was flying to Rochester at 120 mph and 1,800 feet. Jphnson said he feared an attack on his railer house from armed men on the helicopter.
Johnson. Claimed copter shined him first.