Posted on 05/04/2007 7:51:59 AM PDT by Froufrou
A California man who prosecutors said got a little too friendly with his girlfriend during a flight was convicted Thursday of interfering with flight attendants and crew members.
Carl William Persing and his girlfriend were seen "embracing, kissing and acting in a manner that made other passengers uncomfortable" during the September flight from Los Angeles to Raleigh, according to a criminal complaint.
Persing twice threatened a flight attendant who told the couple to stop and refused to serve them alcohol, prosecutors said. The FBI met the couple when the plane landed in Raleigh.
Persing, 41, will probably serve jail time for the federal felony conviction, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Bowler said. He was convicted after a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Wilmington.
Defense attorney Deb Newton said her client will appeal.
"He's devastated," Newton said, adding that he was defending his right to be left alone.
Charges against girlfriend Dawn Elizabeth Sewell, who was accused of assisting Persing, were dropped this week.
Maybe they thought she was carrying a snuke?
Did you know that is actually assault? A friend of mine threw her drink in the face of a guy who got ‘fresh’ and the rent-a-cop told us she assaulted him! True story!
“Say, is that a bag of pretzels in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?”
Tard ping
True, but that’s due to the policies of the airlines. Flight crews are akin to police officers. It’s best to obey them. If you think they are wrong then write a letter after the flight.
Not possible on a plane filled with people concerned for their own comfort and safety.
Man ... it’s getting to where you can’t grope your girl in public anymore.
I think the guy is a cunning linguist, ya know?
“...he was defending his right to be left alone.”
What?!? I thought it was Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. Am I reading the constitution wrong?
I guess he COULD have claimed the “pursuit of happiness” part...
ROTFLMAO
I agree. She sounds like an idiot. If he wants to be left alone he should charter his own plane. I do not want my children exposed to this couples groping in public.
This guy is a low life recreational drunk thug. Back to the trailer park for him!
I believe you're wrong on all counts.
Laws designed to assure the safety of passengers and that of the flight attendants were on the books long before 911.
A drunk can be obnoxious anywhere. Much more so among a captive audience at 36,000 feet.
~snorrfle!~ “Trailer trash!”
funny you mention that, I have been trying google news, google images, etc for that very reason. One shot of the guy had a lady next to him:
http://www.wwaytv3.com/node/1460
might this be her, or maybe his lawyer?
I’ve been trying to figure out how to respond to this, but all I can come up with is a whimper instead of a bang...
Surely the pair could have waited for a more proper time and place. I don’t understand why charges against the woman were dropped.
Seriously, that’s a very good point. The article said she “assisted” him. Aiding and abetting is a very real crime.
LOL
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