Couple arrested 'for having sex aboard JetBlue flight from Florida to Connecticut as mom and children watched
Trista L. Reilly, 43, and Christopher D. Arnold, 42, of Danbury, were arrested Saturday upon arrival at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
They have each been charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, a felony.
The disturbing incident unfolded on JetBlue Flight 163 from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Sarasota.
According to court documents, a flight attendant was alerted by a mother who reported that Reilly and Arnold were engaged in lewd acts in full view of her children.
An affidavit states that after being notified, the flight attendant observed Reilly 'making up and down movements with her head while she was facedown on Mr. Arnold's lap'.
The mother also provided a witness statement, noting that Reilly appeared to notice her children watching but that the couple 'didn't stop'.
Police were called to the scene as soon as the plane landed, and Reilly and Arnold were taken into custody.
Both defendants have been released without bail and are scheduled to be arraigned on August 15.
Daily Mail has reached out to JetBlue and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport for comment.
Arnold owns a carpentry and home remodeling company. The couple appear in Facebook photos together as far back as 2016.
Since Reilly and Arnold are both over 18, their alleged offense of lewd or lascivious exhibition in the presence of minors is classified as a second-degree felony.
If convicted, the couple could face up to 15 years in prison.
Beyond potential incarceration, a conviction for lewd or lascivious exhibition can also carry up to 15 years of sex offender probation, a fine of up to $10,000, and a mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.
The would also be ineligible for 'gain time' in prison, meaning they would have to serve the entirety of any prison sentence.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
What to know about the killings of 4 Tennessee family members of an abandoned baby
A man accused of killing four family members of a baby girl that he left unharmed in a western Tennessee front yard miles from the crime scene last week was captured on Tuesday. Austin Robert Drummond, 28, was taken into custody after a search that put a community along the Mississippi River on edge and amid several unanswered questions surrounding the July 29 quadruple homicide in Tiptonville. Here's a closer look at what we know and don't know about the investigation: How did officials connect the killings with the baby? The investigation into the family's killings in Tiptonville began after an infant in a car seat was found in a front yard in the Tigrett area, roughly 40 miles (65 kilometers) away. The Dyer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that a caller reported that a minivan or midsize SUV had dropped the baby at a 'random individual's front yard.' The sheriff's office later said they were working with investigators in neighboring Lake County, where four people had been found dead. Officials determined those people were the child's parents, grandmother and uncle. Why was the baby found so far from the crime scene? That is not clear. Detectives believe Drummond drove the baby about 40 miles from Tiptonville, where they say he fatally shot the four adults, to the town of Tigrett, where the baby girl was left in a front yard. They haven't said publicly why Drummond chose that house. Dyer and Lake counties District Attorney Danny Goodman declined in an interview with The Associated Press to elaborate on what detectives know about this aspect of the case. He said only that the baby girl is safe now and in the custody of other relatives. What was the motive? Investigators have not revealed why they think Drummond carried out the killings. Goodman said Drummond knew the four people he's charged with killing and that Drummond's girlfriend is the sister of the child's grandmother, but it's unknown if he has any connection to the baby. The victims were found fatally shot in a wooded area near Reelfoot Lake, a swamplike body of water near the Mississippi River and not far from the Missouri border. Did the suspect act alone? Police say Drummond had help in the killings, but haven't elaborated further. Tennessee authorities charged Tanaka Brown, 29, and Giovonte Thomas, 29, with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Investigators allege both men 'assisted' Drummond, 28, in the killings. Dearrah Sanders of Jackson, Tennessee, was also charged with being an accessory after the killings. Did Drummond have a criminal background? Yes, an extensive one. According to court records, Drummond spent years in prison for robbing a convenience store as a 16-year-old and threatening to go after jurors. He was tried as an adult for the July 2013 robbery in Jackson, Tennessee. During the robbery, he pointed a pistol at the gas station store worker and ordered the cash register to be opened, taking the $44 inside, court records show. At a 2020 parole hearing, Drummond said he was on Xanax the night of the robbery and doesn't remember robbing the gas station. He said the firearm was a BB gun. After the jury convicted him of one count of aggravated robbery in August 2014, he made threats to go after jurors, Drummond said during the hearing. He pleaded guilty in February 2015 to 13 counts of retaliation for past action and was given a combined 13-year sentence. His sentence ended in September 2024, according to Tennessee Department of Correction records. As of the 2020 parole hearing, Drummond had more than two dozen disciplinary issues in prison, including possession of a deadly weapon, assault, refusing a drug test and gang activity. Drummond was charged for several activities inside the prison, including attempted murder, after he completed the sentence that originally put him behind bars, Goodman said at a news conference. Drummond was out on bond on the other charges at the time of the killings, Goodman said. What happens next? Drummond is expected in court in Tiptonville for an arraignment later this week. He faces four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses, officials have said. Goodman said he's yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty, but said 'it is very likely' he'll pursue it. An attorney who represented Drummond in his case as a teenager did not return an earlier message requesting a comment. A telephone listing for Drummond could not be found, and an automated message from the local public defender's office said to call back later.
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
A-List star's generous gesture of support to woman beaten up in Cincinnati street brawl
Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen has made a generous gesture of support to a woman who was severely beaten following a street brawl in Cincinnati. The victim, known only as Holly, was attacked in the downtown area of the southern Ohio city alongside an unidentified man. The shocking July 26 attack, which was captured on camera, left the single mother severely bruised and suffering from a 'very bad' brain trauma. Conservative political commentator Benny Johnson launched a crowdfunding campaign to help support Holly with the 'mounting medical and legal bills' she is now facing after the brutal attack. Sheen, whose parents are Ohio natives, made a $1,000 donation to the campaign, vowing the attack 'will NOT be tolerated by the "true" Ohioans' and that 'justice will reign supreme'. The actor, 59, encouraged Holly to 'heal well' and reminded her that 'we are all rooting for you'. Johnson thanked Sheen and the 'thousands' of others who have 'stood with Holly'. As of Tuesday, the campaign has raised more than $493,000. The FBI on Monday arrested a fifth suspect in the now-viral violent beatdown. Police are still searching for a sixth suspect. Sheen donated to Holly's GiveSendGo campaign anonymously, but fans were quick to identify the actor as the generous giver. Not only did his sign his message 'CS', but Sheen left little clues to his identity riddled throughout the post Sheen donated to Holly's GiveSendGo campaign anonymously, but fans were quick to identify the actor as the generous giver. Not only did his sign his message 'CS', but Sheen left little clues to his identity riddled throughout the post. 'Hi Holly. Both of my parents are from Ohio. I'm a lifelong Reds fan and I also played for the Indians in a film years ago,' he wrote, referencing his role in Major League. Sheen portrayed rookie Cleveland Indians pitcher Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn in the beloved 1989 sports comedy film. 'My Ohio connections run deep and what happened to you will NOT be tolerated by the "true" Ohioans (like yourself), as justice will reign supreme,' the actor continued. 'Heal well young lady, and know that we are all rooting for you!' Johnson shared a screenshot of Sheen's heartfelt message with his 3.8million X followers and thanked the star, as well as the countless others who donated to Holly's campaign, for 'saving a life'. Sheen replied to Johnson's post, praising the commentator for his 'stunning and compassionate' donation plan. 'Benny! I was merely following your gracious lead!' Sheen tweeted. 'The speed at which you and Sen Moreno hatched the donation plan, was stunning and compassionate and as patriotic as it gets. You both reminded all of us of the America we remain proud to call - home. He added: 'Keep up the great work, and to Holly, "we" have your six. xox. CS' Conservative political commentator Benny Johnson publicly praised Sheen's generous donation online, prompting a thoughtful reply from the actor Holly is a single, working-class mother and is out of work due to her injuries, the crowdfunder states. She is suffering from a severe concussion as well as hemorrhaging, with the money raised going to help her medical and legal bills. Images emerged last week of her extensive injuries, revealing that both sides of her face were extremely bruised following the assault. Her bottom lip was also cut open slightly, with dark bruises seen around her neck and upper torso. Holly is also living in an undisclosed location due to threats on her life. She spoke out for the first time since the attack last week, sharing an emotional video message that was posted to Johnson's X account. 'I want to say thank you to everyone for all of the love and support,' Holly shared. 'It's definitely what's keeping me going. And you have just brought back faith in humanity. 'It's been very, very hard, and I'm still recovering. I still have a very bad brain trauma. God bless you all. Thank you.' Investigators in Georgia on Monday arrested a fifth suspect in connection to the assault, Fox News reports. Patrick Rosemond, 38, was taken into custody by the FBI and the Atlanta Metropolitan Major Offender's Task Force in Fulton County, Georgia - more than 450 miles south of Cincinnati. Rosemond has been charged with two counts of felonious assault and aggravated riot, as well as one count of fugitive from justice for a fingerprintable charge. He is being held in Fulton County Jail until he is extradited back to Ohio. Officials say Rosemond lives in Cincinnati. It is unclear why he fled to Georgia as he does not appear to have any registered addresses in the state. Rosemond's arrest comes just days after police arrested Jermaine Matthews, Montianez Merriweather, DeKyra Vernon and Dominique Kittle for their alleged roles in the brawl. Kittle, 37, was taken into police custody on Friday night and was charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot, his bond was set at $150,000. He appeared in court on Saturday where his lawyer told the judge that he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, according to WLWT. Matthews, 39, Merriweather, 34, and Vernon, 24, were taken into custody earlier last week after the ordeal, which JD Vance waded in on. Matthew and Merriweather were initially charged with aggravated riot and assault over the brawl. Matthews, however, was hit with three more charges on Thursday - two felonious assault and one misdemeanor assault charge. It is alleged that Merriweather was the 'catalyst' for what detectives have described as a 'coordinated attack'. New footage has also emerged showing the moments leading up to the attack, with one of the men who police said was a victim using racial slurs. The video, obtained by The Enquirer, shows the unknown individual say: 'Get him! Get that little n*****.' Two black men appeared to try and talk to the man to calm him down before the brawl starts. Matthews' attorney Brandon Fox released the video. Merriweather's family have also claimed that he was called racial slurs and spat on in the lead up to the fight. Fox said: 'It was not a Black, racist mob attacking people. These were separate fights that were triggered by racial slurs that ultimately poured gasoline on the fire.' The melee prompted an outcry from Police Chief Theresa Theetge who admonished witnesses for failing to call 911. 'Nobody called the police,' she said Monday. 'Nobody got us there as quickly as we could get there. They waited until they saw it on social media. 'That is unacceptable to not call the police when you view this. Traffic was horrendous. People saw this, they were fighting in front of traffic.'
Reuters
15 minutes ago
- Reuters
NYC to face $64-million cut in security funds from Trump administration after deadly shooting
WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The Trump administration said it would cut terrorism prevention funding for New York City, according to a grant notice posted days after a gunman killed four people inside a Manhattan skyscraper. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated in a grant notice, opens new tab posted on Friday that New York City would receive $64 million less this year from its urban area security fund. The amount was listed in a single line of an 80-page FEMA notice on the grant program. Congress created the program to help cities prevent terrorist attacks. 'It makes absolutely no sense, and no justification has been given to cut NY's allocation given the rise in the threat environment,' a spokesperson for the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services said in a statement on Monday afternoon. Manhattan has been the site of two attacks on high-profile corporate executives in the last year. The most recent attack came from a gunman armed with an assault-style rifle in late July. He killed four people inside an office building that houses the headquarters of the NFL and several major financial firms. Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the attack in her late July letter, opens new tab to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asking why the Trump administration had not announced the amounts each city would receive from the program this year. FEMA is part of DHS. Noem's office did not respond to two messages from Reuters asking why the federal government cut New York's funding. The agency uses 'an analysis of relative risk of terrorism' to decide how much money cities will receive, according to the grant notice posted on Friday. The agency may change the amounts later, according to the notice. In 2023, the agency considered city visitor counts, population density, and proximity to international borders, among other factors, to determine the totals, according to a report signed by then-FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. FEMA has been decreasing terrorism prevention money for New York City each year since at least fiscal year 2022. The drop is much more drastic this year at 41% year-over-year. The New York City Police Department has used the funding in the past to pay for the Domain Awareness System, a network of cameras, license plate readers, and detection devices, according to a 2016 statement, opens new tab from former Mayor Bill de Blasio's office.
