A Colorado man has been arrested and charged with abusive sexual contact after he groped a Spirit Airlines flight attendant during a flight from Las Vegas to Denver last week. The case was investigated by the FBI. Here are the details.
* According to the FBI, Evan Nathaniel Castle, age 24, of Thornton, was a passenger on Spirit Airlines Flight 562 from Las Vegas to the Denver International Airport last Friday.
* Castle was served several drinks during the flight, and became loud and began using profane language, according to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint.
* When one of the flight attendants asked Castle to stop using vulgar language and to lower his voice, he refused, screaming that he could say whatever he wanted, and then suggested that he should date the flight attendant.
* As another flight attendant was walking down the aisle of the aircraft, Castle told her she was beautiful. He made a number of other comments to the second flight attendant during the flight, including telling her he could show her a better time than work and that she should “blow off work†and come with him.
* As the second flight attendant was making a final walkthrough of the aircraft cabin prior to landing, the affidavit states, she walked past Castle’s seat. Castle grabbed the right cheek of her buttocks and said, “Oh sexy.â€
* The flight attendant was observed crying by coworkers and stated that Castle’s actions made her feel violated.
* The plane landed at 11:56 am at the Denver International Airport, at which time Castle was arrested and held in custody over the weekend, pending the filing of charges on Monday, the FBI stated.
* According to the affidavit, Castle was advised of his rights, waived those rights, and stated that he was a married man with children and that Flight 562 was his first time flying. He stated that he was served four shooters of Tanqueray on the plane, but that he wasn’t drunk.
* Castle said the first flight attendant never talked to him about his behavior, and that the second flight attendant was beautiful, but he only spoke to her one time and he never touched her, the affidavit states.
* However, according to the affidavit, Castle said that when he woke up he felt like there had been a dispute on the flight and that one of the flight attendants had an attitude towards him.
* The FBI reported that Castle appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Monday, at which time he was released on a personal recognizance bond. The conditions of his bond are that he cannot drink alcohol or fly on a commercial aircraft while his case is pending.
* If convicted, Castle faces up to two years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine, the FBI stated.
* Castle’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 6.
