California Man Sentenced for Assaulting Flight Attendants on San Diego Flight

A California man has been sentenced to six months in prison for assaulting two flight attendants while traveling from San Diego to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The office of the U.S. Attorney for New Mexico announced the sentencing Wednesday of 43-year-old Alton James Johnson of Yuba City, California. James pleaded guilty to the assault on Jan. 12.

Cellphone video captured the moment a Southwest Airlines flight attendant was assaulted during a disagreement over the airlineโ€™s mask policy.

Prosecutors said in a plea agreement that Johnson repeatedly touched a female flight attendant on her legs during a December 2019 flight. She asked him to stop and he then grabbed her by the buttocks.

Prosecutors say a second flight attendant stepped in to help and he grabbed that attendant by the arm.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Johnson admitted in the plea agreement to having been under the influence of alcohol but in control of his actions.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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