An Army Warrant Officer has been charged with molesting not just one, but two teens onboard an Alaska Airlines flight–two months apart.
Charge: Army Servicemember Molested Two Teenage Girls On Alaska Airlines
James Benecke, 41, is a noncommissioned officer in the US Army stationed in Alaska. He now faces two counts of abusive sexual contact while onboard an aircraft according to the US attorney’s office.
- Incident One – April 12, 2023
- On an Alaska Airlines redeye flight from Anchorage (ANC) to Seattle (SEA), Benecke allegedly intentionally touched the thigh, then the butt of a 16-year-old teen who was seated next to him for sexual arousal
- Incident Two – June 12, 2023
- On an Alaska Airlines flight from Dallas (DFW) to Seattle, Benecke allegedly touched the leg with his pinky and then slid his hand up the inner thigh of an 18-year-old teen who was seated next to him
- She tried to get out of her seat to speak to flight attendants, but Benecke allegedly pretended to be asleep in an attempt to block her from getting out
- While she climbed over him to get out of her middle seat, he allegedly grabbed her butt
- The teen’s boyfriend witnessed this and reported the incident to the cabin crew, who moved Benecke to the rear of the aircraft
Benecke was arrested at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside Anchorage earlier this week and will appear in court on July 20, 2023 in Washington State. He is recently divorced, which may or may not provide a motive for the allegations against him.
Incredibly, Benecke does not deny that physical contact occurred, but claims that he is a “big guy” and that any touching was not deliberate.
Investigators believe these two incidents may not be isolated. If you have more information, you re encouraged to call the FBI:
Due to the heavy travel schedule of the defendant, the investigation is ongoing and law enforcement is interested in speaking with anyone who may have been seated near to Benecke on an aircraft. Those with information should call: 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324)
If found guilty, he faces up to two years in prison.
CONCLUSION
Benecke is innocent until proven guilty. At the same time, these allegations are incredibly disturbing and his “defense” seems to implicate him. I’ll leave out my own commentary here except to say that if he did that to my daughter, I’d want him castrated…
If you have any information concerning this man or are a victim of his abuse, please do reach out to the FBI.
(H/T: One Mile At A Time)
Only two kinds of people join the military;
Morons
Sociopaths
Which are you private Chad?
Matt,
You are quick to point out some of these stories – and I am not saying good or bad – and you do comment that he is innocent until proven guilty. However, it would be a nice feature, that no one else appears to do (at least well), is actually follow-up on some of these click-bait stories. Granted the wheels of justice may take a long time and tracking down some details might not be easy, but considering some of interesting behaviors on planes (and at hotels) these day – some follow-up would be nice.
thank you
-michael
Hi Michael,
I do try to do that (a few examples below), but will try to do a better job of it:
https://liveandletsfly.com/american-bomb-threat-singapore-airlines/
https://liveandletsfly.com/emirates-flight-attendant-released/
https://liveandletsfly.com/frontier-airlines-groping/
https://liveandletsfly.com/poor-behavior-united-airlines-prison/
“He is recently divorced, which may or may not provide a motive for the allegations against him”.
Could you explain why being recently divorced has anything to do with molesting someone?
He didn’t have enough to eat at home?
I know we’re supposed to not pre-judge, but if this happened twice on two separate flights, the benefit of doubt does decrease for many people.
Which I think is very reasonable.
A warrant officer is not a noncommissioned officer. A little research goes a long way.
Dude, I was in the chair force. We didn’t have these ridiculous titles.
I used this—
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_officer
Did not just wing it.
Totally inconsequential to the story anyway.
If it’s inconsequential, why did bother to look it up?
Sorry the Wikipedia article didn’t provide you the correct answer.
Are you in the Army? What is a Warrant Officer if not a NCO?
You found the Wikipedia article. Now try scrolling all the way down to the section on the United States.
I read it. Please man, just spill it out.
Still seems like NCOs in name, if not in function.
They are “warranted” officers, not “commissioned” officers. It’s right in the name. I think of it as a modern-day Letter of Marque to raise someone to the privileges and responsibilities of a commissioned officer but without the due process typically required. My background is a Marine, and Warrant Officers come from the enlisted ranks and, once warrented (after a required time-in-service and minimum rank), they become leaders in their field. For the Marine Corps, this is typically technical fields outside combat arms, though there are combat arms warrant officers, too – called “Gunners” and are expected to be experts in weaponry and tactics (I think…I wasn’t a grunt). A good example is that a lot of Administrative detachments (HR, Personnel, whatever you wanna call it) are led by Warrant Officers that were formerly enlisted admin Marines. In the Communications field, warrant officers tend to be detailed computer/communications network planners. Lots of technical knowledge beyond what’s typically found within the enlisted ranks (but not necessarily) but able to take on leadership roles.
CW2 and higher are fully commissioned in the USA. All wos receive officer perks and are considered officers not ncos.
My grandfather is a retired CW3
Matthew, I wouldn’t want you sitting on the Supreme Court for an 8th amendment case!
For sure – I don’t think most things are cruel and unusual.
Why is a 16yr female flying a red eye from Anchorage to Seattle is an important question that needs answered.
Why not? I want my daughter to be traveling independently as soon as she can.
Good grief! I want to tread carefully here, but I think a point needs to be made. Castration for a butt grab? The guy ought to move to more tolerant Saudi Arabia. 🙂
I have a daughter myself and one thing I’m most worried about for her isn’t only protecting her from predators, but also entitlement. My brother’s daughter that he lavished with $200,000 of private education has slept with a half dozen guys before she was 23. My wife chucked: “She sounds like a garden tool” (not her actual wording).
I remember reading about the hysteria about “upskirt” videos back in the 90’s and my girlfriend who was 50 at the time chuckled: “They see my panties? Oh no! I’m gone!” Women today are both a combination of hysterically easily offended worse than a Victorian woman needing smelling salts if an F word is dropped yet also “grrrl power” girls out to intimidate men.
Ok, the guy touched a girl’s butt. So fine him, punish him, put him on probation and get him help and if he doesn’t improve imprison him.
Final story: My friend’s ultra-Catholic mother, the most goodie-two-shoe woman I have EVER met in my life, and I’ve met a lot of them, once was walking outside and guy exposed himself to her. She, without batting an eye and without thinking, simply said “My husband’s is bigger” and walked off.
I think Matt sounds like a great father particularly in what he’s said about parenting in the past. It’s tough. We just become parents and then… we have to figure it out.
Sounds to me like the guy watched too much Mile High Club porn.
One would think as a professional soldier of higher rank, he would’ve known better. Loss of all pay and allowances certainly isn’t worth a butt grab
As a follow up: James Benecke, recently pled guilty.