Sex on Plane

(Raleigh, North Carolina) Carl Warren Persing and Dawn Elizabeth Sewell were on a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Raleigh with a stop in Phoenix. After a few cocktails, they became amorous and refused to stop their public display of affection even when directed to by the flight attendant.

According to an affidavit by FBI agent Michael Sutton:

From Phoenix to Raleigh, the pair sat next to each other.

While in the plane on the ground in Phoenix, the couple was kissing, embracing and "acting in a manner that made other passengers uncomfortable," Sutton wrote in his affidavit.

"Persing was observed nuzzling or kissing Sewell on the neck, and around the collarbone in the vicinity of her breast," Sutton wrote. Persing was also observed with his face pressed against Sewell's lower body.

At first, the couple complied with a request from a flight attendant to stop their behavior. But they soon resumed during the flight.

When asked again, according to Sutton's affidavit, Persing told the flight attendant: "I'm going to give you one warning to get out of my face."

Persing, of Lakewood, CA, and Sewell, of Huntington Beach, CA, were met by federal agents in Raleigh and arrested. They're scheduled to go on trial in federal court on December 11.


[Update 05/04/07]

Persing convicted by jury. Charges against Sewell dismissed.