An Arlington man pleaded guilty to charges of making lewd, indecent, or obscene acts while on an aircraft. He will face up to 48 days in prison.
Antonio Sherrodd McGarity, 34, of Arlington, Texas, pleaded guilty to lewd, indecent, or obscene acts while on an aircraft last week and was sentenced to 48 days in prison followed by one year of probation, ruled U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona on May 24.
While on probation, McGarity is prohibited from flying commercially in the U.S. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail upon conviction, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Court records say that on April 22, McGarity was aboard a Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Seattle, Washington, to Phoenix, Arizona.
During the flight, McGarity exposed himself while other passengers sat next to him in the emergency exit row. He was witnessed pleasuring himself several times, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The passenger seated next to McGarity reported the incident to a flight attendant, who then notified the Phoenix Police Department and FBI agents on the ground. Upon landing, McGarity was arrested and charged with committing a lewd, indecent, or obscene act on an aircraft.
McGarity has multiple state and local convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct in addition to this offense, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.