Update: Passenger accused of sexual assault threat during flight to Tri-Cities enters plea
Oct. 4, 2024 Update
Ronald Lee Van Note II has pleaded not guilty and a trial has been set for Dec. 9.
He will be represented by a public defender.
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Sept. 24, 2024
An Arizona man on a flight to the Tri-Cities Airport has been indicted on suspicion of threatening to commit sexual abuse on an aircraft and also simple assault on an aircraft during the flight.
Ronald Lee Van Note II was scheduled to enter a plea before a judge on Tuesday Oct. 1 at the Richland federal courthouse.
He was on Allegiant Air flight 2267, which originated in Mesa, Ariz., and landed in Pasco on May 18, according to court documents.
He is accused of threatening to engage in a sexual act with another person on the flight, which is a felony that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.
He also is accused of intentionally touching the person without their consent, a misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to six months incarceration, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM.