A former California Freeway Patrol captain won’t 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 a substitute obtain three years of probation after pleading responsible to a misdemeanor depend of easy assault on an plane. U.S. District Choose Percy Anderson ordered Woodbury to finish 100 hours of neighborhood service and endure psychological well being and substance abuse therapy and testing, in response to court docket information.
“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 stated 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 easy assault beneath a plea settlement accepted by the court docket 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 response to the memorandum.
The victims, two male flight attendants, testified that Woodbury’s actions left them fearful for his or her security and disrupted their capacity to do their jobs throughout a cross-country flight in April 2025, in response to prosecutors.
On the flight, Woodbury downed a bottle of Prosecco and confirmed one flight attendant a pornographic image, in response to court docket information.
Woodbury then advised the 2 males go on a cruise collectively.
“When [the attendant] demonstrated how the aircraft’s oxygen masks labored, he noticed Woodbury taking a look at him and [making] a hand-pumping movement,” the prison grievance states.
Shortly after, he slapped an attendant’s butt and yelled, “I like you.” The incident prompted flight workers to swap sections on the aircraft, however Woodbury’s habits persevered.
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 stated the incident compromised the attendants’ capacity to carry out safety-critical duties in the course of the flight. In a sufferer affect assertion, one flight attendant stated Woodbury’s conduct induced “important emotional, skilled and reputational” hurt.
“Nobody ought to should really feel threatened merely for doing their job,” prosecutors wrote.
Regardless of these arguments, the court docket declined to impose a jail sentence.
Anderson additionally waived a $2,000 nice proposed by prosecutors, citing Woodbury’s monetary circumstances, and ordered him to pay a compulsory $10 particular evaluation, in response to the judgment.
