Ex-police captain slaps attendant and exposes himself on plane to CA, feds say
A former California Highway Patrol captain, who lost his job with the state police agency, 'slapped a flight attendant's buttocks' and exposed his genitals to another crewmember on a JetBlue flight to Los Angeles in April, federal prosecutors said.
Dennis Wally Woodbury, 49, started acting inappropriately with the two male flight attendants before the plane took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 13, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
He had been 'drinking heavily' on the aircraft, prosecutors said.
On May 1, a federal grand jury indicted Woodbury, of Azusa, in Los Angeles County, on one count of abusive sexual contact within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.
He's free from custody on a $50,000 bond following his initial court appearance on April 15, records show.
Woodbury's federal public defender, Annick Jordan didn't immediately return McClatchy News' request for comment May 2.
An FBI task force officer investigating Woodbury wrote in court filings that the California Highway Patrol had 'dismissed' him 'from state service.'
The reason wasn't specified by the FBI officer, who's also a Los Angeles Police Department detective.
While aboard the plane destined for the Los Angeles International Airport, court documents say that one of the flight attendants harassed by Woodbury reported he drank a full bottle of Prosecco sparkling wine, 'within 3 hours.'
Before Woodbury later slapped this flight attendant, he showed another flight attendant a photo of a dog, according to court documents.
In the picture, behind the dog, 'was a blurred image of what appeared to be two men having sex,' court documents say.
Following take off and meal service, Woodbury slapped the one flight attendant's buttocks as he gathered travelers' meal trays, according to prosecutors.
'Woodbury then yelled that he loved him,' prosecutors said.
At some point afterward, Woodbury is accused of approaching the flight attendant, who he showed the inappropriate photo to, at the front of the plane and exposing his genitals, according to prosecutors.
The flight attendant told Woodbury he was being inappropriate, then Woodbury asked if he could have wine, prosecutors said.
Woodbury, according to prosecutors, exposed his genitals again by pulling down his pants after the crewmember wouldn't give him more alcohol.
The flight attendant told Woodbury: 'Enough, go back to your seat,' prosecutors said.
Woodbury is also accused of telling one of the flight attendants to take a cruise with him before making what prosecutors called a 'crude hand gesture.'
A JetBlue spokesperson told McClatchy News via email on May 2 that 'the safety of our customers and crewmembers is our top priority' and added that the airline 'took immediate action at that time by notifying law enforcement.'
'We have zero tolerance for the behavior alleged and continue to assist and cooperate fully with authorities in this case,' the spokesperson said.
If convicted, Woodbury would face up to two years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI and the Los Angeles Airport Police continue to investigate the incident.
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