Jet Blue Passenger gets the easy treatment from the Feds

[J and E's Daddy]

AP
$10,000 bail for woman accused of hitting air crew
Monday June 23, 3:16 pm ET
Colo. judge sets bail at $10,000 for woman accused of punching JetBlue flight attendant
DENVER (AP) -- A federal magistrate in Denver says a woman accused of punching a flight attendant in the face can be released on $10,000 bond but says she can't travel on planes or drink alcohol.Christina Elizabeth Szele of Woodside, N.Y., was arrested June 17 on charges of assault and interfering with flight attendants on a JetBlue flight from New York to San Francisco.
The FBI says she shouted obscenities and racial epithets at a flight attendant who tried to stop her from smoking. Szele allegedly broke through plastic handcuffs that flight attendants used to restrain her and punched an attendant in the jaw, prompting the captain to divert the flight to Denver.
The magistrate set Szele's bail Monday. Officials say they don't yet know if she's been released.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

How does this bond thing work. I've heard that one need only put up 10% of the figure which would mean she only has to put up $1,000?

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Bail is only set very high if the accused is a flight risk or the crime is Capital or severe otherwise . Additionally, Colorado courts are liberal and liberals like to give a lot of rights to criminals.

 

[Andy Neill]

How does this bond thing work. I've heard that one need only put up 10% of the figure which would mean she only has to put up $1,000?

It is my understanding that the usual deal with a bail bonding agency is that the accused puts up 10% and the bonding agency puts up the rest. When the accused shows up for trial, the bonding agency gets it all and the accused loses the $1000 to the agency. If the accused doesn't show up, the bonding agency loses the $10,000 and goes after the accused for that loss.

 

[Dan Roman]

It is my understanding that the usual deal with a bail bonding agency is that the accused puts up 10% and the bonding agency puts up the rest. When the accused shows up for trial, the bonding agency gets it all and the accused loses the $1000 to the agency. If the accused doesn't show up, the bonding agency loses the $10,000 and goes after the accused for that loss.

And if that's not clear watch Dog the Bounty Hunter on A+E, oh wait, didn't that get canceled because he lost his temper and made some racial comments....

 

[lowtimedriver]

Hard to find a good woman that likes slapping an aircrew member. Anyone have her phone number?:nuts:

 

[~~~^~~~]

Shame we don't have a little airlock so we did not have to divert. It would be more efficient and reduce inconvenience for the other passengers if the lady could simply be ejected over Denver.

Bars don't have to drive their customers home after a brawl.

 

[dispatchguy]

Hard to find a good woman that likes slapping an aircrew member. Anyone have her phone number?:nuts:

Check on the Smoking Gun, I think they had her arrest report and mug shot on there...

 

[saab fixr]

How about teach the flight attendants how to kick the hell out of some unruly idiot and when they land, they can haul his or her ass off to jail and when the lawsuit comes around tell them next time do as your told !!

 

[gutshotdraw]

SmokingGun.com By the looks of her, she probably has a couple of arrests for hooking down on Hollywood Boulevard. Gach...uke:

 

[PA31Driver]

Additionally, Colorado courts are liberal and liberals like to give a lot of rights to criminals.

As opposed to the conservatives who just cover up the crime?

 

[Dizel8]

Shame we don't have a justice system that detains morons like this woman.

I guess interfering with aircrew still isn't a big deal.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

So will she have to go to court in Colorado then?

If so, that's a long way from NY by train or bus.

When I read about people like her I can only think of the scene in Airplane where everybody lined up to take a crack at the hysterical passenger. Bats, lead pipes, boxing gloves, etc.

 

[crashpad]

I'll be so glad to be rid of this trash and all her ilk who've been drawn to air travel thanks to "$39 one-way, bring a Hefty, and forget the deoderant" fares.

Today we see all respectable airlines cutting capacity by HUGE numbers.

By the end of summer all tickets will be $500 EACH WAY!!! As it should be.....

..the pax will pay, but no longer be satisfied with Bernice and Brucey in Brown Hot Pants anymore.

 

[lowtimedriver]

Hard to find a good woman that likes slapping an aircrew member. Anyone have her phone number?:nuts:

Neverminduke:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0619081smoke1.html

 

[NEDude]

Remember that Newark passenger who broke the neck of a Continental gate agent a few years back? He got off lightly if I remember correctly.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Broke the neck?

Wow. Just wow.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Shame we don't have a justice system that detains morons like this woman.

I guess interfering with aircrew still isn't a big deal.

Why don't we wait for the outcome of the trial before we condemn the entire justice system.

All she got was bail...and conditions of her bail....there is still a trial to come...

It's not like she is home free....

 

[Dizel8]

Why don't we wait for the outcome of the trial before we condemn the entire justice system.

All she got was bail...and conditions of her bail....there is still a trial to come...

It's not like she is home free....

You are correct, we should wait for the verdict, but somehow I doubt it will be 5 years in prison and a 250K fine, + $ for the diversion. Not the first time we have seen this kind of show, most have gotten away with a slap on the wrist.

 

[airlinepilot]

Nothing to keep the airline from a civil suit for damages......and a class action one by the passengers...probably won't happen but it would sure make some people think twice.

 

[LR25]

Shame we don't have a justice system that detains morons like this woman.

I guess interfering with aircrew still isn't a big deal.

Your right on the money.

And IF she gets convicted, she will probobly just have to do community service.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

How about implementing a law where the offending passenger is banned from air travel for a minimum of 1 year. I think this would help deter this behavior and keep likely recidivists off as well.

Stranely enough, I feel that airline management wouldn't acquiesce to this as it'll impact their bottom line. They really have no empathy for inflight crew either.

 

[Andy Neill]

Remember that Newark passenger who broke the neck of a Continental gate agent a few years back? He got off lightly if I remember correctly.

You remember correctly. Here is the news story from the 1999 event and 2001 trial:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E2DC1F3FF937A35757C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
The issue was that the jury didn't buy the state's version of the conflict. Whether self-defense or not, the gate agent's neck was broken.

As to Amish's thoughts about what management would think about a 1 yr ban, the last line of the article says that the assailant won't be riding Continental for life.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

As to Amish's thoughts about what management would think about a 1 yr ban, the last line of the article says that the assailant won't be riding Continental for life.

Good riddance!

Something tells me the prosecution dropped the ball on that one.

 

[cheerios2]

"Mr. Sottile suffered a broken neck and injuries to his skull and eye socket in the incident, and spent five days in a coma. He testified on the first day of the trial that he did not recall any events of that day, and that he had lost 80 percent of the mobility in his neck."

 

[J and E's Daddy]

Unfortunately, these judges have no b*lls to make an example of people who commit crimes on aircraft. This is why it continues. You would think after 9/11, they would, but she'll get a fine and be forced to pick up trash along the highway for a week.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

As opposed to the conservatives who just cover up the crime?

That doesn't make sense. Check your brain. A true conservative would lock her up and throw away the key. Or worse.