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A now-former American Airways flight attendant was arrested Thursday for making an attempt to document a minor feminine passenger utilizing a rest room aboard an plane he was working in September 2023, federal prosecutors in Boston mentioned.
The defendant, Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, of Charlotte, North Carolina, can be alleged to have possessed recordings of 4 further minor feminine passengers who additionally used loos aboard the identical plane.
Thompson was charged with one depend of tried sexual exploitation of kids and one depend of possession of kid pornography depicting a prepubescent minor. Thompson was arrested in Lynchburg, Virginia, and can stay in custody pending an preliminary look in Virginia earlier than he’s transferred to Boston. ABC Information was not instantly in a position to find a authorized consultant for Thompson.”
“The deeply disturbing conduct alleged right here is one thing no mother or father or little one ought to ever have to fret about once they journey, U.S. Legal professional Joshua Levy mentioned. “Mr. Thompson allegedly used his place to prey on and surreptitiously document harmless youngsters, together with unaccompanied minors, whereas in a weak state aboard flights he was working.”
Thomas was working an American Airways flight from Charlotte to Boston on September 2, 2023 when prosecutors mentioned a 14-year-old lady acquired up to make use of the principle cabin bathroom nearest to the place she was seated. Thompson allegedly approached her, informed her that the primary class bathroom was unoccupied and escorted her towards firstclass. Earlier than the minor sufferer entered the bathroom, Thompson allegedly informed her that he wanted to scrub his arms and that the bathroom’s bathroom seat was damaged, and briefly entered the bathroom.
After Thompson exited the bathroom, the minor sufferer entered and noticed crimson stickers on the underside of the bathroom seat lid, which was within the open place, that acknowledged, “inoperative catering gear” and “take away from service,” and “seat damaged” was hand-written in black ink on one of many stickers, in line with charging paperwork. It’s alleged that, beneath the crimson stickers, Thompson hid his iPhone to document a video. The minor sufferer used her telephone to take an image of the crimson stickers and the hid iPhone she discovered within the bathroom earlier than exiting, at which era Thompson allegedly re-entered it instantly, the charging paperwork learn.
Prosecutors mentioned the 14-year-old knowledgeable her mother and father of what she noticed and confirmed them the image. The sufferer’s mother and father reported the matter to different flight attendants onboard who notified the pilot. The pilot then informed legislation enforcement. The teenager’s father confronted Thompson who locked himself within the bathroom along with his iPhone for 3 to 5 minutes previous to the flight’s descent.
Upon the flight’s arrival at Boston’s Logan Airport, legislation enforcement noticed that Thompson’s iPhone might have been restored to manufacturing unit settings, prosecutors mentioned. It’s alleged {that a} subsequent search of Thompson’s suitcase was discovered to include 11 “inoperative catering gear” stickers.
A search of Thompson’s iCloud account allegedly revealed 4 further situations between January and August 2023 through which Thompson recorded a minor utilizing the bathroom on an plane. The minor victims allegedly depicted within the surreptitious recordings have been seven, 9, 11 and 14 years previous on the time. Moreover, over 50 photographs of a nine-year-old unaccompanied minor have been allegedly present in Thompson’s iCloud. The photographs included pictures taken whereas the minor sufferer was seated in her seat pre-flight and close-ups of her face whereas sleeping.
“What Mr. Thompson is accused of doing is disgraceful, and we consider, calculated, provided that this alleged conduct occurred on at the very least 5 flights,” mentioned Jodi Cohen of the FBI.
Following Thompson’s arrest, American Airways launched a press release relating to the incident. “We take these allegations very critically. They don’t replicate our airline or our core mission of caring for individuals. We’ve been totally cooperating with legislation enforcement in its investigation as there’s nothing extra necessary than the protection and safety of our clients and workforce,” the corporate mentioned.
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