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 yr.
Dennis Woodbury, 50, will as a substitute obtain three years of probation after pleading responsible to a misdemeanor rely of straightforward assault on an plane. U.S. District Decide Percy Anderson ordered Woodbury to finish 100 hours of neighborhood service and endure psychological well being and substance abuse therapy and testing, based on court docket information.
“That the defendant was as soon as able of public belief and dedicated these acts is disturbing and ought to be taken critically,” 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. lawyer’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 straightforward assault beneath a plea settlement accepted by the court docket in October.
The U.S. lawyer’s workplace argued {that a} sentence of 90 days in custody “displays the seriousness of the offense given the defendant’s historical past,” based on 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, based on prosecutors.
On the flight, Woodbury downed a bottle of Prosecco and confirmed one flight attendant a pornographic image, based on court docket information.
Woodbury then advised the 2 males go on a cruise collectively.
“When [the attendant] demonstrated how the airplane’s oxygen masks labored, he noticed Woodbury 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 employees to swap sections on the airplane, however Woodbury’s conduct continued.
He walked to the airplane’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 airplane, demanded wine and uncovered himself once more.
The federal government stated the incident compromised the attendants’ skill to carry out safety-critical duties throughout the flight. In a sufferer influence assertion, one flight attendant stated Woodbury’s conduct brought about “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 wonderful proposed by prosecutors, citing Woodbury’s monetary circumstances, and ordered him to pay a compulsory $10 particular evaluation, based on the judgment.
