Seattle, United States: A 28-year-old man from Deering, Alaska, was convicted in federal court on September 11, 2025, for abusive sexual contact on an Alaska Airlines flight.
Trayton C. Ballot was arrested on January 15, 2025, after flight attendants reported inappropriate behavior during the flight from Anchorage to Seattle. According to court documents, Ballot repeatedly rubbed the inner thigh of a 17-year-old passenger seated next to him.
The victim, traveling with her mother and a family friend, attempted to push Ballot’s hand away and immediately notified both her mother and the flight crew, who intervened to stop the assault.
The case proceeded to trial in U.S. District Court in Seattle, where the jury, after a two-day hearing, deliberated for roughly one hour before returning a guilty verdict. The case emphasized serious violation of the victim’s personal safety and trust during a routine commercial flight.
Ballot faces a statutory maximum sentence of two years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge John H. Chun is scheduled to hear sentencing arguments on December 15, 2025.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with the prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorneys. The case reflects the federal government’s ongoing efforts to address sexual misconduct on commercial flights and to reinforce strict penalties for those who violate passenger safety.
Alaska Airlines confirmed it cooperated fully with law enforcement during the investigation and emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior on board.
