Mid-flight sexual play lands US couple afoul of anti-terrorism law

[zhelas]

A couple's ill-concealed sexual play aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles got them charged with violating the Patriot Act, intended for terrorist acts, and could land them in jail for 20 years.
According to their indictment, Carl Persing and Dawn Sewell were allegedly snuggling and kissing inappropriately, "making other passengers uncomfortable," when a flight attendant asked them to stop.

"Persing was observed nuzzling or kissing Sewell on the neck, and ... with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area. During these actions, Sewell was observed smiling," reads the indictment filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On a second warning from the flight attendant, Persing snapped back threatening the flight attendant with "serious consequences" if he did not leave them alone.

The comment was enough to have the couple, both in their early 40s, arrested when the plane reached its destination in Raleigh, North Carolina, and charged with obstructing a flight attendant and with criminal association.

They have been placed under legal surveillance until their trial on February 5. If found guilty, they both could be sent to jail for up to 20 years.

Persing's lawyer William Peregoy said his client was not feeling well when he placed his head on his companion's lap, and that he only threatened the flight attendant with reporting him to his superiors on landing.

[Parkbandit]

20 years is a bit much.. but threatening the flight attendant was seriously fucked up and they should get a pretty 'stiff' sentance.

[AestheticDeath]

I think its stupid. All around.

[ElanthianSiren]

I think its stupid. All around.
qft

[Latrinsorm]

20 years is a bit much.. but threatening the flight attendant was seriously fucked up and they should get a pretty 'stiff' sentance.Parkbandit's only remaining use for the word "stiff".

[xtc]

Parkbandit's only remaining use for the word "stiff".

LMAO, ROTFL

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

This whole situation is retarded. They were freaking cuddling, she had her pants on.. it wasn't like he was trying to rub sexually her through her pants. Not to mention that Persing made the comment, not the girl.

What a waste of time.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<it wasn't like he was trying to rub sexually her through her pants.>>


with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area.

STFU.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

<<it wasn't like he was trying to rub sexually her through her pants.>>



STFU.

It sounds to me like he was laying sideways and his head was resting on her lap. And that some people freak out over anything remotely sexual.

But they weren't dry humping, and he wasn't rubbing her. So STFU to you too.

[Shari]

Clearly these people are absofuckingretarded. Pressing your face in her vagina? I don't care if she had her clothes on. Totally innapropriate for being on a plane. Threaten a flight attendant, even more stupid. I think 20 years is a bit harsh, but people have got to realize that you can't "fuck" around on an airplane anymore.

[Numbers]

It sounds to me like he was laying sideways and his head was resting on her lap.

On an airplane?

[Shari]

If you're on a pretty empty flight, people are allowed to jump their seats to go where they want. On my flights down to Costa Rica I was able to get a whole row to myself where I threw the arms of the seats up and was able to lay down and stretch completely out for a nice 5 hour nap.

[stallion4]

Regardless of what position he was laying in..Face up, down, sideways, who cares. You've got to be about as smart as a brick to snap at anyone working on a plane or causing any uncomfortable situations in general in the air anymore. Just keep your mouth shut.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

On an airplane?

I'll lay like that when I'm flying with a friend/boyfriend/family and it's not even sexual, just more comfortable.

Like Shari said, if there's less people on the flight, it's definitely possible.

I don't think they should have been assholes about it, but I think 20 years or ANY years in prison is a little ridiculous.

[xtc]

Regardless of what position he was laying in..Face up, down, sideways, who cares. You've got to be about as smart as a brick to snap at anyone working on a plane or causing any uncomfortable situations in general in the air anymore. Just keep your mouth shut.

True but I think charging them under the Patriot Act is a bit far fetched.

I use to travel a fair bit for work a few years ago. At the time some of my co-workers thought they were God. They were drunk, rude and obnoxious on a regular basis to flight staff. This was prior to 9-11, never once were they arrested and they caused more trouble than this guy.

[Parkbandit]

It sounds to me like he was laying sideways and his head was resting on her lap. And that some people freak out over anything remotely sexual.

But they weren't dry humping, and he wasn't rubbing her. So STFU to you too.


You were sexually pwned by a 17 year old. His fucking face was in her fucking vaginal area. That's what you consider cuddling? That's not remotely sexual.. that is sexual.

So.. you are ignorant on sex and politics.. anything else?

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

You were sexually pwned by a 17 year old. His fucking face was in her fucking vaginal area. That's what you consider cuddling? That's not remotely sexual.. that is sexual.

So.. you are ignorant on sex and politics.. anything else?

If her pants were off and he was tonguing her labia, are rubbing her clitoris with his nose, THATS sexual.

But being NEAR a sexual area on someone does NOT equal sex.

If that's the case, don't hug your mom because her boobs press into you, and OMG U WERE NEARLY HAVING SEX!one11

[Parkbandit]

If her pants were off and he was tonguing her labia, are rubbing her clitoris with his nose, THATS sexual.

But being NEAR a sexual area on someone does NOT equal sex.

If that's the case, don't hug your mom because her boobs press into you, and OMG U WERE NEARLY HAVING SEX!one11


So I can come over to your house tonight.. and stick my face on your vagina.. and as long as you have pants on.. you would be fine with that.. since it's not sexual in any way?

You should have left it at Bob telling you to STFU. He's alot nicer than I am.

[Landrion]

Theyll probably get a slap on the wrist.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

So I can come over to your house tonight.. and stick my face on your vagina.. and as long as you have pants on.. you would be fine with that.. since it's not sexual in any way?

You should have left it at Bob telling you to STFU. He's alot nicer than I am.

Apples and oranges, dude.

Someone you don't KNOW touching you through your clothing is illegal.

Someone you do know and who happens to be NEAR a sexual body part is NOT the same thing.

For a bunch of people who cry cry cry about how the media skews things to make it appear in favor of certain things, is it REALLY that hard of an idea to grasp that MAYBE the media or the police have skewed this event to make it seem a little less ridiculous on their part?

[Parkbandit]

I just asked my wife if we were on a plane and she layed down and I placed my face between her legs on her vagina, would you feel that it was sexual or not.. her answer was "Of course"

It's something that is not socially acceptable on an airplane or any other means of public transportation.

Sorry to confuse you so much.

[Xaerve]

I just asked my wife if we were on a plane and she layed down and I placed my face between her legs on her vagina, would you feel that it was sexual or not.. her answer was "Of course"

It's something that is not socially acceptable on an airplane or any other means of public transportation.

Sorry to confuse you so much.


I'd imagine your wife would be really happy if you'd do something sexual with her rather than be a champion of talking down to other people in the internet.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I just asked my wife if we were on a plane and she layed down and I placed my face between her legs on her vagina, would you feel that it was sexual or not.. her answer was "Of course"

It's something that is not socially acceptable on an airplane or any other means of public transportation.

Sorry to confuse you so much.

You loaded the question by how you asked it.

I'm sure if you'd said, "If I was on an airplane and laid across a few empty seats with my head in your lap, Is that sexual or innocent?" the response would have been different.

Thanks for playing but No.

[Tisket]

The airline overreacted. Terrorism? Hardly. Just sounds like a couple that wanted to join the mile high club. To slap a terrorist charge on them is an abuse of the protections afforded airlines by current law.

Oh and not sex? Puhleeze. Taken in context with their other listed behaviors saying it wasn't sexual is stupid.

[Parkbandit]

You loaded the question by how you asked it.

I'm sure if you'd said, "If I was on an airplane and laid across a few empty seats with my head in your lap, Is that sexual or innocent?" the response would have been different.

Thanks for playing but No.

Ah.. I get it now. It might not be a sexual ignorance issue with you.. but a reading and comprehension issue with you. Here, let me quote the article:


with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area

It doesn't say his head was innocently on her lap. It doesn't say he was leaning his head against her leg.. it says his FACE WAS PRESSED AGAINST SEWELL'S VAGINAL AREA.

Now certainly.. if I asked my wife about my head in her lap.. then perhaps she would say it isn't sexual. But since you made that up in your own mind instead of reading the article.. it bears nothing to this debate.

[Artha]

The airline overreacted. Terrorism? Hardly. Just sounds like a couple that wanted to join the mile high club. To slap a terrorist charge on them is an abuse of the protections afforded airlines by current law.

Oh and not sex? Puhleeze. Taken in context with their other listed behaviors saying it wasn't sexual is stupid.
QFT.

[Parkbandit]

The airline overreacted. Terrorism? Hardly. Just sounds like a couple that wanted to join the mile high club. To slap a terrorist charge on them is an abuse of the protections afforded airlines by current law.

Oh and not sex? Puhleeze. Taken in context with their other listed behaviors saying it wasn't sexual is stupid.


I don't think it's the sex act (or in Narcissiia's case.. non sexual act) that landed them with terrorism charges.. it was the way the couple or one of them threatened the flight attendant that got them into hot water.

It was a stupid thing to do and an even stupider thing to threaten the attendant.

[Parkbandit]

I'd imagine your wife would be really happy if you'd do something sexual with her rather than be a champion of talking down to other people in the internet.

She's menstrating this week... so I think she's fine with what I'm doing.

thanks for the concern though.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I just don't think that the "sex" stuff should even be mentioned.. the title of the thread makes it sound like they were banging in the bathroom (which is a federal offense) and they got in trouble.

[Sean of the Thread]

I just don't think that the "sex" stuff should even be mentioned.. the title of the thread makes it sound like they were banging in the bathroom (which is a federal offense) and they got in trouble.

Hey Narclittiia... CRAMMING YOUR FACE IN SOMEONES TWAT IS SEXUAL. Clothed or otherwise. He wasn't "resting his head on her lap".. he was "pressing his face into her vagina..."
Motor'boatin in the lil canoe zone is a crime now days?!?!?!

[zhelas]

"Persing was observed nuzzling or kissing Sewell on the neck, and ... with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area. During these actions, Sewell was observed smiling," reads the indictment filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

I am sure this is the author's way of keeping it PG. A lot is left out and left to ones imagination.

To say it wasn't sexual is crazy. To be rude to the flight crew is just stupid. To be charged with terrorism under the Patriot Act? I guess it really depends on the threat he made. 20 years? Stupid.

Go find a blanket or go into the cramped nasty airplane bathrooms.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I am sure this is the author's way of keeping it PG. A lot is left out and left to ones imagination.


Which definitely couldn't conceivably used the other way to make a situation look worse than it already was. Riiight.

[Sean of the Thread]

Which definitely couldn't conceivably used the other way to make a situation look worse than it already was. Riiight.

Did you notice the quotes in the description of the acts that occurred? Those would be statements.. made by a WITNESS.. not the author. If anything the uncomfortable WITNESS pg'd it up out of embarrassment.

[zhelas]

I am sure this is the author's way of keeping it PG. A lot is left out and left to ones imagination.


If her pants were off and he was tonguing her labia, are rubbing her clitoris with his nose, THATS sexual.

I am sure if the items mentioned in your quote were mentioned in the article there would be other different types of complaints do to the sexually explicit nature.

Anyway. I found the article crazy and that is the reason behind the post. Becareful what you do on a plane. Pressing your mouth on a woman's vagina and being rude to a flight attendant is apparently terrorism. Poor taste and Just being dumb.

Who knows maybe she had a vaginal bomb and he was trying to light it.

[Latrinsorm]

If that's the case, don't hug your mom because her boobs press into you, and OMG U WERE NEARLY HAVING SEX!one11My chest isn't my face though. I hug my mom a lot, but I certainly wouldn't consider plowing my face into her boobs a hug.

Way to make PB post a lot, Narcissiia, I just love being subjected to his obnoxiously enormous sig. :(

[CrystalTears]

WTF, 20 years?! I will say though that they were acting inappropriately and if people felt uncomfortable and they were asked to stop, you just stop.

Laying his head on her lap. LOL! First we have to make the assumption that the entire aisle was empty and there were at least 4 seats in between them. Have YOU tried laying your head on someone's lap in an airplane? It's near impossible unless you have the leg room to prop up.

Not sexual? :lol:

[Back]

This sets an awful precedent. Now, no matter how rude, incompetent, poorly groomed, obnoxious or unintelligent airline staff may be, you better not even think about speaking up about it.

[zhelas]

Excuse me sir/madame your Body Oder is Biological Warfare. You will be arrested under the Patriot Act.

[CrystalTears]

What precedent? It was because they snapped back at the flight attendant. Had they just said I'm sorry and left it alone, this wouldn't be a problem. They were being jerks. The penalty was ridiculous, but you still shouldn't be an ass to them, especially when they're doing their job and asking you to stop dry humping your woman. :D

[Sean of the Thread]

Who knows maybe she had a vaginal bomb and he was trying to light it.

If vagina's are a tool of terrorism I know who the number one terrorist is.


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/emislity.jpg

[Parkbandit]

I just don't think that the "sex" stuff should even be mentioned.. the title of the thread makes it sound like they were banging in the bathroom (which is a federal offense) and they got in trouble.

Most people can read and decipher the words that were written and come to the conclusion that they were not banging in the bathroom.

[Shari]

I just had a chocolate-covered pretzel come out my nose from that.

WRONG, WRONG WRONG!











Loved it.

[AestheticDeath]

I just asked my wife if we were on a plane and she layed down and I placed my face between her legs on her vagina, would you feel that it was sexual or not.. her answer was "Of course"

It's something that is not socially acceptable on an airplane or any other means of public transportation.

Sorry to confuse you so much.

Your making it more than it was. The artical didnt say anything about her having her legs open or him 'doing' anything to her vagina.


"Persing was observed nuzzling or kissing Sewell on the neck, and ... with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area. During these actions, Sewell was observed smiling," reads the indictment filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

This can be taken so many different ways. The person writing it wasnt the one watching, and witnesses dont always see things the same way.

The guy could have been kissing on her neck and whatnot, but that doesnt mean he was kissing her vagina.

When I first read this, I pictured her SITTING in her plane seat, and with him leaning over resting his head on her LAP. Lap is pretty damn close to the sexual parts, but doesnt mean your touching them or doing anything inappropriate. And she was smiling.. So what? They knew each other or something, and it wasn't rape. You want her to look bored?

Seriously all we have is a very short, second or third or fourth hand story. And now everyone is trying to conjure up exactly what happened and how appropriate or sexual it might have been.

If his face was in her lap, no biggy. If she had her legs spread and he was nosing or licking or something, then yeah its very inappropriate.

No matter what was going on, how sexual it was - 20 years for the incident is totally freaking rediculous. Unless he said he was gonna physically harm the attendant, his insult wasn't even enough to warrant arrest. The lawyer said the guy stated he would just report her to her superiors. The other people didn't state what exactly his threat was.

I think people are getting carried away with what you can't say to flight attendants.

Trying to put this incident under the new patriot act is absurd. He wasnt trying to bring the plane down, and as far as I am concerned he was issuing death threats to the attendant, most likely not even physical harm.

So he was getting some loving maybe.. Give him a few months community service for not listening to the person in charge.

[Parkbandit]

Jesus Christ.. there are two of them.

I give up.

[Artha]

Hopefully they're just trying to play devil's advocate.

[AestheticDeath]

Of course. I don't just automatically take written word for fact. So I always try to look at it from either side.

[HarmNone]

I think the point is that they were asked by the attendant to stop the behavior and Sir Gallant threatened the attendant. You don't threaten airline staff these days EVAR! If you do, this is the risk you take.

[AestheticDeath]

Yeah I get that, but the lawyer also said the threat was "reporting him to his superiors' which isnt a threat at all in my mind.

[Artha]

You don't trust written word but you do trust lawyers?

Uh...

[Tisket]

You don't threaten airline staff these days EVAR! If you do, this is the risk you take.

Well, one thing I know for certain...next time I fly I won't make eye contact with flight staff, I certainly won't dare ask for an extra blanket, assistance with my seatbelt or any of the things I have done in the past on routine flights...

Seriously, too much about what constitutes "threatening" behavior is left up to the attendants discretion.

[Xaerve]

Well, one thing I know for certain...next time I fly I won't make eye contact with flight staff, I certainly won't dare ask for an extra blanket, assistance with my seatbelt or any of the things I have done in the past on routine flights...

Seriously, too much about what constitutes "threatening" behavior is left up to the attendants discretion.


Yea, this is the more slippery slope problem that I think needs to be ironed out. These are pretty 'normal' people with no particular law-enforcement training who are making decisions that can lead people to be put in prison for up to 20 years? Seems fucked to me. And we can't have them go through more training, because airlines aren't going to pay them more...

[AestheticDeath]

You don't trust written word but you do trust lawyers?

Uh...

Im giving the other side which other people arent paying attention to.

You basically have two versions there, and everyone is focusing on one.

I never meant to imply that lawyer is the only one telling the truth or something.

Just read the whole thing, and stop trying to make more of things than they are. Thats all.

[AestheticDeath]

Also, do they have cameras on planes? If not perhaps they should.

[ElanthianSiren]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/emislity.jpg


Leave Philly out of it! We're innocent.

-M

[TheEschaton]

Ummmm, I don't say jack shit on airplanes. I stare straight forward and don't speak unless spoken to. If something is requested of me, I do it immediately and squeak at the end of it, "Even-though-I'm-brown-I'm-not-a-terrorist."

That jackass should of known better than to retort. That being said, I think it's ridiculous to charge them as terrorists, and there DOES need to be something done about this.

What happened to all the conservatives who used to scream about frivolous lawsuits? What about frivolous criminal charges by the government? Not your bag?

-TheE-

[ElanthianSiren]

Or the ones that claimed the Patriot Act could never and would never be used frivolously. Oops.

-M

[zhelas]

They have been placed under legal surveillance until their trial on February 5.

FBI: Yes.. now we need to see what you two were doing. Over and over and over.. yes just like that...mmm Daddy likes that.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

So they were doing something that made others uncomfortable and the attendant asked them to stop. Twice. Maybe now instead of annoying assholes on airplanes, we can focus on the real issue:

Charging fat people for two seats.

[Skirmisher]

Sir CALM DOWN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCsp0CGD3H0&NR

[Alfster]

Charging fat people for two seats.

I've had the unpleasant experience of being stuck between two fatties on a plane, and i've got to say...even if you can't force them to buy two seats, GIVE THEM TWO GOD DAMN SEATS

(I wonder how many two seaters are posting on these boards)

[DeV]

(I wonder how many two seaters are posting on these boards)lol...

They went about joining the mile high club all the wrong way. They have themselves to blame for the repurcussions. Alternately, getting one's freak on in an airplane after refusing to stop when asked twice due to making others feel uncomfortable equates to terrorism? Just wow.

That is wrong on so many levels. I agree they were idiots for not following simple instructions, but grats on frivilous charges that have no bearing on actually preventing terrorism in this country?

[CrystalTears]

Considering how often people make out and such on airplanes, you have to wonder how obvious and obnoxious they were about it that it caused people to not only be uncomfortable but to complain about it.

[Sean of the Thread]

Him stuffin his face into her whisker biscuits aside.. I wan't to know what his specific threat was before I pass judgment. Threat with violence...pwn him. Threat to make a complaint to a superior with proper tact.. lawsuit.

[Wezas]

If you're on a pretty empty flight, people are allowed to jump their seats to go where they want. On my flights down to Costa Rica I was able to get a whole row to myself where I threw the arms of the seats up and was able to lay down and stretch completely out for a nice 5 hour nap.

You'd think with the napping on the way down you wouldn't have slept in the next morning.

:wasntme: