Current:Home > NewsFlight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom-LoTradeCoin
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
View Date:2024-12-23 19:27:45
BOSTON (AP) — An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Police have also alleged that Estes Carter Thompson III, 36, of Charlotte, North Carolina, had recordings of four other girls using lavatories on an aircraft where he worked.
Thompson was indicted on one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of images of child sexual abuse depicting a prepubescent minor.
Thompson was charged and arrested in January 2024 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He has been in federal custody since. A lawyer for Thompson said after the indictment by a federal grand jury that he was unable to comment.
Investigators said that about midway through a Sept. 2, 2023, flight from Charlotte to Boston, the 14-year-old got up to use the main cabin lavatory nearest to her seat but found it was occupied.
Thompson then told her the first-class lavatory was unoccupied and escorted her there, investigators said. Before she entered the bathroom, Thompson allegedly told her he needed to wash his hands and that the toilet seat was broken, they said.
After he left, the teen entered the bathroom and she saw red stickers on the underside of the toilet seat lid, which was in the open position, officials said.
Beneath the stickers, Thompson had concealed his iPhone to record a video, investigators said. The girl used her phone to take a picture of the stickers and concealed iPhone before leaving.
Prosecutors also allege hundreds of images of child sexual abuse generated through artificial intelligence were found stored on Thompson’s iCloud account.
Attempted sexual exploitation of children carries a sentence of 15-30 years in prison, while possessing images of sexual abuse of a prepubescent minor can mean up to 20 years in prison.
Both charges also provide for at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution.
American Airlines previously issued a statement saying the flight attendant was “immediately withheld from service” and hasn’t worked since the phone was discovered.
A search of Thompson’s iCloud account revealed four additional instances between January and August 2023 in which Thompson recorded a minor using the lavatory on an aircraft, according to investigators.
Those depicted in the recordings were 7, 9, 11 and 14 years old at the time, they said. Their families have been contacted by police, investigators said.
veryGood! (639)
Related
- Man charged with murder in fatal shooting of 2 workers at Chicago’s Navy Pier
- These states have the most Mega Millions, Powerball jackpot winners
- Can ChatGPT do my taxes? Chatbots won't replace human expertise any time soon
- Mega Millions jackpot soars $1.1 billion. This one number hasn't won for months in lottery
- Jared Goff stats: Lions QB throws career-high 5 INTs in SNF win over Texans
- FBI tells Alaska Airlines passengers on flight that had midair blowout that they may be victim of a crime
- All Of Your Burning Questions About Adult Acne, Answered
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files motion to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson over spending deal
- College Football Playoff bracket: Complete playoff picture after latest rankings
- March Madness games today: Everything to know about NCAA Tournament schedule Sunday
Ranking
- Texas mother sentenced to 50 years for leaving kids in dire conditions as son’s body decomposed
- Pennsylvania teen accused of killing 12-year-old girl, sentenced to 15 to 40 years
- What's in a name? Maybe a higher stock. Trump's Truth Social to trade under his initials
- A surprising number of stars eat their own planets, study shows. Here's how it happens.
- US Election Darkens the Door of COP29 as It Opens in Azerbaijan
- MLB's very bad week: Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal, union civil war before Opening Day
- Former Rep. George Santos says he's leaving the Republican Party, will run as an independent
- Palm Sunday is this weekend; What the Holy Day means for Christians
Recommendation
-
Disney x Lululemon Limited-Edition Collection: Shop Before It Sells Out
-
Riley Strain: Timeline from student's disappearance until his body was found in Nashville
-
Maximize Your Time and Minimize Your Spending With 24 Amazon Deals for People Who Are Always on the Go
-
Riley Strain: Timeline from student's disappearance until his body was found in Nashville
-
Philadelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts
-
Mega Millions winning numbers for March 22 drawing: Lottery jackpot soars to $977 million
-
This NBA star always dreamed of being a teacher. So students in Brooklyn got the substitute teacher of a lifetime.
-
Experience Unbeatable Convenience and Save 30% on the Hanging Cosmetics Bag Shoppers Can’t Get Enough Of