A former California Highway Patrol captain has been indicted by a federal jury after allegedly consuming an entire bottle of sparkling wine on a JetBlue flight from Florida to Los Angeles in April.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that 49-year-old Dennis Wally Woodbury from Azusa, California, faces a charge of abusive sexual contact within the U.S. maritime and territorial jurisdiction.
Woodbury, who was dismissed from his role with the California Highway Patrol, was reportedly a passenger on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles on April 13. During the flight, he is alleged to have acted inappropriately toward two male flight attendants.
Before takeoff, Woodbury showed one of the flight attendants an image of a dog that had a pornographic picture in the background, according to the DOJ.
Reports indicate that he was heavily drinking, having finished a full bottle of Prosecco within three hours. He later suggested to one of the flight attendants that they should go on a cruise together, followed by making a coarse hand gesture.
After meals were served, he allegedly slapped one flight attendant’s buttocks and expressed that he loved him. At one point, Woodbury entered the front galley, pulled down his pants and underwear, and exposed himself.
Woodbury was told his behavior was inappropriate but continued to ask for more wine, which was denied. After this, he reportedly pulled down his pants again, prompting a flight attendant to tell him to return to his seat.
Both flight attendants later informed authorities that they had not consented to Woodbury’s actions. JetBlue has not commented on the matter.
Woodbury appeared in federal court last month, was released on a $50,000 bond, and is scheduled for a hearing on May 12 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. The charge of abusive sexual contact is a felony that carries a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison, according to the DOJ.
