Assaulting a flight attendant is a serious offense and for one Arkansas man, may lead to decades to prison plus a substantial fine.
Man Faces Huge Fine + Jail Time For Flight Attendant Assault On American Eagle
Leon Anderson, 40, pleaded guilty on Thursday to interfering with a flight attendant after an odd incident more than a year earlier on a PSA flight operating on behalf of American Eagle.
Onboard AA5686 from Charlotte (CLT) to Little Rock (LIT) on February 11, 2020, the incident began prior to takeoff. While walking down the aisle, a flight attendant felt his leg being grabbed. He turned around and saw it was Anderson.
Anderson apologized immediately and said it was a mistake. But moments later Anderson placed his arm on the flight attendant’s shoulder and his other arm on the flight attendants waist while apologizing again. The flight attendant pulled back and said no further apology was necessary.
During the flight, according to U.S. Attorneys, Anderson made “inappropriate, sexual comments” to the flight attendant and grabbed him two more times in a “sexual manner.”
The captain was notified and law enforcement met the aircraft upon arrival in Little Rock.
Anderson was originally indicted with one count of abusive sexual assault by a grand jury, but as part of the plea deal his offense was reduced to one count of interference with a flight attendant.
While he will likely receive a much lesser sentence, Anderson faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a jail sentence of up to 20 years for his actions.
He now awaits sentencing from Judge James Moody, Jr.
CONCLUSION
Sometimes the wheels of justice move slowly. This incident occurred before the pandemic began and is only now being adjudicated. But the bottom line is clear: assaulting anyone is a bad idea, but assaulting a flight attendant is a particularly serious offense that can lead to huge fines and jail time.
(H/T: Paddle Your Own Kanoo // image: American Airlines)
Let’s give him the chair!!! You can literally push someone in front of the train in the NYC subway and be home for dinner. But you want to put someone away for 20 years for copping a feel?
You are literally an effing moron…yeah just hundreds of passenger-into-train-pushers walking free in the streets of NYC
Way too easy. Like shooting fish in a barrel. You take the bait every time. Have no clue you’re getting played.
I’m sure you hear this a lot but it bears repeating: get help.
I hope this guy gets 20 years in jail. How come the people punching flight attendants arent going away for this amount of time?
I know someone that was murdered. The killer got 35 years and no fine. 20 years is too much in comparison to 35 years. I think 35 years was too little, though.
I predict he will get a $50K fine and three months.
See what happens when they close the bathhouses in these conservative communities. These people need an outlet for their uncontrollable urges.
All it take is some bleeding heart judge and he’ll get a slap on the wrist. We see it everyday.
This is just the criminal side of the passenger’s punishment, The flight attendant should sue him for civil damages, such as assault, sexual assault, and others. Demand compensation for over $1,000,000 for the assault, mental damages, humilition, doctor’s bills, inability to sleep, effect on work performance, etc.
Most people don’t realize that criminal penalties and fines, and FAA fines, don’t prevent the flight attendant for suing for personal damages. Get a judgment, garnish the passenger’s salary, attach and sell his house, car, and other assets.
Like Gary Leff says: these psychos rarely
face punishment.
I have ZERO patience for these re-tards.