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A former California Freeway Patrol captain is not going to serve jail time after admitting to exposing himself and sexually touching flight attendants aboard a JetBlue flight final 12 months.
Dennis Woodbury, 50, will as an alternative obtain three years of probation after pleading responsible to a misdemeanor rely of straightforward assault on an plane. U.S. District Choose Percy Anderson ordered Woodbury to finish 100 hours of group service and bear psychological well being and substance abuse remedy and testing, in line with courtroom data.
“That the defendant was as soon as able of public belief and dedicated these acts is disturbing and must be taken significantly,” Assistant U.S. Atty. Brenda Galvan wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
Woodbury had beforehand been dismissed from the CHP after serving within the San Gabriel Valley, the U.S. legal professional’s workplace mentioned in a information launch.
He was initially arrested on a extra severe felony cost of abusive sexual contact inside federal jurisdiction however was allowed to plead to a lesser cost of straightforward assault below a plea settlement accepted by the courtroom in October.
The U.S. legal professional’s workplace argued {that a} sentence of 90 days in custody “displays the seriousness of the offense given the defendant’s historical past,” in line with the memorandum.
The victims, two male flight attendants, testified that Woodbury’s actions left them fearful for his or her security and disrupted their skill to do their jobs throughout a cross-country flight in April 2025, in line with prosecutors.
On the flight, Woodbury downed a bottle of Prosecco and confirmed one flight attendant a pornographic image, in line with courtroom data.
Woodbury then prompt the 2 males go on a cruise collectively.
“When [the attendant] demonstrated how the aircraft’s oxygen masks labored, he noticed Woodbury him and [making] a hand-pumping movement,” the legal criticism states.
Shortly after, he slapped an attendant’s butt and yelled, “I really like you.” The incident prompted flight employees to swap sections on the aircraft, however Woodbury’s habits continued.
He walked to the aircraft’s entrance galley, pulled down his pants and uncovered himself to the second flight attendant. After he was urged to take his seat, Woodbury circled again to the entrance of the aircraft, demanded wine and uncovered himself once more.
The federal government mentioned the incident compromised the attendants’ skill to carry out safety-critical duties through the flight. In a sufferer affect assertion, one flight attendant mentioned Woodbury’s conduct triggered “vital emotional, skilled and reputational” hurt.
“Nobody ought to must really feel threatened merely for doing their job,” prosecutors wrote.
Regardless of these arguments, the courtroom declined to impose a jail sentence.
Anderson additionally waived a $2,000 advantageous proposed by prosecutors, citing Woodbury’s monetary circumstances, and ordered him to pay a compulsory $10 particular evaluation, in line with the judgment.
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