70-month sentence for spitting passenger
Star-Bulletin staff
A man who became belligerent toward an airline flight attendant who refused to serve him more alcoholic drinks, and then spat at her, was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in prison.
U.S. District Judge David Ezra noted that Zacariah Dodge, 27, was violating conditions of probation on a prior offense when he drank alcohol on the flight.
Dodge pleaded guilty to a charge of interference with a flight attendant while on board an aircraft, according to a news release from the Office of the U.S. Attorney.
The release said Dodge became inebriated and was verbally offensive to flight attendants aboard a Nov. 14, 2004, flight from Seattle to Honolulu. When the American Trans Air senior flight attendant decided not to serve him any more drinks, he became upset, prevented her from walking away and repeatedly spat at her.
He was arrested by state sheriff deputies when the plane landed and was later taken into custody by the FBI.
At the sentencing hearing, Ezra said the prison term was warranted because of Dodge's conduct and also because he had used drugs and alcohol in violation of probation. Ezra said Dodge had a poor record in serving probation on other offenses and had violated his bail terms during this case.
In a written statement, U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said: "This shows that the government and the court will support our flight crew members while on board airplanes. The stiff sentence provides notice to all that this type of conduct on our airplanes will never be tolerated and will continue to warrant additional prison time.
"This case highlights our strong belief that the safety and welfare of all who flies is a paramount concern to us, and we will take all aggressive steps to deter and to punish such conduct."
Deputy U.S. Attorney Marshall Silverberg prosecuted the case. Dodge was represented by the Federal Public Defender's Office.