This is your Patriot Act in Action

[Amazon 7]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/kissing-pairs-terrorist-act/2006/11/16/1163266674347.html

Canoodling couple's 'unpatriotic act'
November 16, 2006 - 9:16AM

A couple's ill-concealed sexual play aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles got them charged with violating the Patriot Act, intended for terrorist acts, and could land them in jail for 20 years.

According to the indictment, Carl Persing and Dawn Sewell were observed, nuzzling with Perser also pressing his face against Sewell's vaginal area. During these actions, Sewell was observed smiling.

On a second warning from the flight attendant, Persing snapped back threatening the flight attendant with "serious consequences" if he did not leave them alone.

The comment was enough to have the couple, both in their early 40s, arrested when the plane reached its destination in Raleigh, North Carolina.

But Persing's attorney, Deb Newton, said her client was lying with his head on her lap because he wasn't feeling well

That gesture was misinterpreted by a flight attendant, who humiliated and harassed the couple.

Newton said she will ask that the charges be dismissed.

"The one witness I've talked to and the defendant dispute almost everything in the government's affidavit as to what happened on that airplane," Newton said.

She said Persing suffers from a chronic disease requiring medication that makes him drowsy, dizzy and irritable. She would not identify the disease to protect her client's privacy.

Sewell's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

[steveorino 7]

What idiot would threaten "serious consequences" to a stewardess? In this day and age, what a moronic thing to do!

steveOrino

[Zipp0 1]

So, my wife can't lay her head in my lap? Or, as it is now to be known, my "huge cock area." Or is it OK if I just don't smile at the time?

Serious consequences is not necessarily a mortal threat. That could mean almost anything.

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[steveorino 7]

I could not care less where the moron lays his head, but making a threat to a stewardess is just too imbecelic.

steveOrino

[Zipp0 1]

But was it a threat? He could have meant "I'll have you fired" or something similar.

It's not like he said "Piss off or everybody dies!" And if you are not feeling well, and are half asleep, you can say things that you might not even be totally aware of.

The bottom line is, the fact that they are charged with some law meant for terrorism is proof that the Patriot act is a useless piece of shit.

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[steveorino 7]

Sounds like his threat could be interpreted more than one way, eh? Stil think it was a smart thing to say. Laws banning jokes and threats have been in existence long before any patriot act.

steveOrino

[NCclimber 0]

Here's a another story:

Quote

RALEIGH - A California couple whose in-flight friskiness on the way to Raleigh was a bit much for other passengers are facing federal charges for harassing the flight attendant who asked them to stop.

Carl Warren Persing and Dawn Elizabeth Sewell are scheduled to go to trial Dec. 11 at the federal courthouse in Wilmington for their behavior during a Sept. 15 flight. The indictment states that "the defendants repeatedly engaged in overt sexual activity in the cabin of the plane to such an extent that the flight attendant had to direct them to stop."

But Persing and Sewell wouldn't halt their public displays of affection, and Persing threatened the flight attendant who made the request and refused to serve them alcohol, according to the court records.

Efforts to reach Persing, of Lakewood, Calif., and Sewell, of Huntington Beach, Calif., were unsuccessful. Their defense lawyers did not return messages Monday.

It is unclear how often disruptive passengers are charged with crimes. The Federal Aviation Administration tracks only incidents involving unruly passengers that are reported by the flight crew and are not referred to law enforcement. There were 79 incidents this year as of Sept. 20 -- in comparison to last year's total of 203.

FBI special agent Michael Sutton wrote in an affidavit that Persing and Sewell were on a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Raleigh with a stop in Phoenix. On the first trip, Persing and Sewell sat in separate rows, and Persing was served one alcoholic drink. 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."

Things deteriorated from there, according to Sutton's affidavit: The flight attendant refused to serve them alcohol. Persing called the flight attendant "a punk." Persing kept asking for alcohol.

Sewell told the flight attendants that she worked for a lawyer and it was illegal not to serve alcohol to them. The flight attendant told them to stop asking for alcohol. Persing said, "You and I are gonna have some serious confrontation when we get off this plane."

When the couple got off the plane in Raleigh, law enforcement officials were waiting.

[Amazon 7]

So basically they are not arrested for disorderly conduct.. but for terrorism..

And the Ultra Righties wonder WHY those of us not on the fringe right ... are worried about the erosion of our rights as citizens.. under some trumped up terrorist threat.

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

So basically they are not arrested for disorderly conduct.. but for terrorism..

And the Ultra Righties wonder WHY those of us not on the fringe right ... are worried about the erosion of our rights as citizens.. under some trumped up terrorist threat.

Interesting that the version you posted claims they were charged under the Patriot Act but the second story doesn't mention it.

-

[NCclimber 0]

Yeah. I missed where it said they were charged with terrorism.

[Gravitymaster 0]

I Googled their names and read about 10 other sources for this story including the WaPo and none of them mentioned them being charged under the Patriot Act. Only the one you cited from Sydney Australia mentions the Patriot Act.

Why do you think that is?

-

[Zipp0 1]

Quote

Yeah. I missed where it said they were charged with terrorism.

The first paragraph in the first article in this thread.

Neo-con terror law being used to prosecute someone for sex?

You don't say!?

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[ExAFO 0]

Butt Secks?

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

So basically they are not arrested for disorderly conduct.. but for terrorism..

A person who breaks the law, makes public threats against another, and tries to bully people.

From the information provided, he made a public threat on an airplane.

And you defend him just because you don't like the law used to arrest him? Would you have been OK if they just arrested him without any mention of the PA?

Like it or not he made a threat on a plane. HE made it so his actions fell under the patriot act.

[Amazon 7]

Its interesting from the standpoint of ....creep... its intedned for one thing.. and has been used for a varied group of arrests by the right wing goons out there.



First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left
to speak out for me.


Pastor Martin Niemöller

[Zipp0 1]

Quote

A person who breaks the law, makes public threats against another, and tries to bully people.
.

Sounds to me like the airline attendant was the bully. Is there a law against making out in public? As long as they didn't disrobe, they were probably not breaking the law.

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[billvon 3,132]

> Is there a law against making out in public?

Nope, just a law against threatening the flight crew on an airplane. That's the only issue here. If they'd just been making out, and been arrested for THAT then you'd have a good point.

[ExAFO 0]

Butt Secks??

Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW.

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Is there a law against making out in public? As long as they didn't disrobe, they were probably not breaking the law.

In the minds of the Right Wingers it certainly is..

that is what happens when the little head does not get enough stimulation.. it starts thinking for the big head....and jeolousy takes over and laws are needed to keep others from getting something they are not getting.

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Sounds to me like the airline attendant was the bully.

Now we find the real problem. Finally. She could continue to be polite, but instead abuses a rule - resulting in watering it down.


Aside - If people really want to eliminate the patriot act, this is way to do it - purposely misuse it until it looses effectiveness. I'm sure this stewdardess is a hero to many on the left.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[idrankwhat 0]

Quote

What idiot would threaten "serious consequences" to a stewardess? In this day and age, what a moronic thing to do!

I read the indictment yesterday and if he did half of what they are accusing him of he's toast.
http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/crim/uspersing101106ind.html

[Zipp0 1]

Quote

> Is there a law against making out in public?

Nope, just a law against threatening the flight crew on an airplane. That's the only issue here. If they'd just been making out, and been arrested for THAT then you'd have a good point.

Well, here's the thing then Bill-

If they were being told to stop making out, which is not illegal, and they refused, they did nothing wrong. Then, when told repeatedly to stop their legal activity, were't they then being harassed? If they wouldn't have been bothered, they wouldn't have had to tell the steward(ess?) to piss off.

If you get pulled over multiple times by the same cop for OBEYING the speed limit, isn't that harassment, and wouldn't a 'piss off' be appropriate?

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[Zipp0 1]

Quote

Quote

What idiot would threaten "serious consequences" to a stewardess? In this day and age, what a moronic thing to do!

I read the indictment yesterday and if he did half of what they are accusing him of he's toast.
http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/crim/uspersing101106ind.html

I read it. Sounds rather vague to me. Unless they disrobed they probably did not commit a crime.

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

If you get pulled over multiple times by the same cop for OBEYING the speed limit, isn't that harassment, and wouldn't a 'piss off' be appropriate?

that's 2 questions

1 - harassment? - yes it is

2 - "piss off" appropriate? - no it's not. And it's just stupid, and selfish and purely emotive and self serving and helps no one after your brief initial (and fleeting) moment of gratification. The appropriate response is more mature and involves getting all your facts straight and taking it to the next level above the problem cop. Or in this case - talking to a different stewardess or the pilot or the airline management upon landing.

edit: I want to add this to #2 "I hope her company gives her a lecture on customer service. Doesn't change the fact that it's illegal to threaten a member of a flight crew."

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,132]

>If they wouldn't have been bothered, they wouldn't have had to
>tell the steward(ess?) to piss off.

1) They didn't "have" to tell her anything. They could have said nothing.

2) The stewardess may well have been being a bitch, and if so, I hope her company gives her a lecture on customer service. Doesn't change the fact that it's illegal to threaten a member of a flight crew. "She was a bitch" is not a defense.