Calif. Couple Faces Federal Charges for Frisky Flight Behavior

Tuesday , November 14, 2006

Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — A California couple are facing federal charges after allegedly refusing to stop "overt sexual activity" on a flight to Raleigh.

Carl Warren Persing, of Lakewood, Calif., and Dawn Elizabeth Sewell, of Huntington Beach, Calif., were indicted on charges of interfering with flight crew members during their Sept. 15 Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles.

According to court documents, flight attendants saw Persing and Sewell kissing, embracing and "acting in a manner that made other passengers uncomfortable" while the plane was stopped in Phoenix.

A flight attendant asked them to stop. They obeyed initially but resumed the behavior during the flight from Phoenix to Raleigh, authorities said.

When the flight attendant again requested them to stop, Persing allegedly told the flight attendant: "I'm going to give you one warning to get out of my face."

Persing and Sewell continued the verbal harassment after a flight attendant refused to serve Persing alcohol, according to court documents.

Law enforcement officials were waiting for the couple when they arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Messages left by The Associated Press for Persing and Sewell's attorneys were not returned.