The Frontier Airlines passenger who went viral last year after he was duct-taped to his seat for sexually harassing two flight attendants and attacking another has been sentenced to two months in jail.
On Tuesday this week, 23-year-old Maxwell Berry pleaded guilty to three counts of assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction for his antics aboard the flight from Philadelphia to Miami in August last year, ABC News reported.
Berry, who had faced a year-and-a-half in jail and a $15,000 fine, also was sentenced to one year of supervised release. He must surrender by Aug. 1.
A cellphone video that went viral last year showed Berry being duct-taped to the back of a seat before he was apprehended by waiting police officers on three counts of battery.
The video showed Berry, of Norfolk, Ohio, throwing punches at a male flight attendant and yelling profanities while sitting in a window seat.
According to an arrest report, Berry finished two drinks he ordered and then brushed his empty cup against the buttock of a female flight attendant, who told him, “Don’t touch me.”
Berry then ordered another drink which he spilled on his shirt, prompting him to go to the bathroom and come out “shirtless,” the report said. He then walked around the cabin and fondled the breasts of two female flight attendants.
“He came from behind and put his arm around both of them and groped their breasts again,” the arrest report said.
Berry later attacked a male flight attendant who was asked to watch him following the in-flight havoc, authorities said.
Two of the victims attended Berry’s sentencing on Tuesday — Jordan Galarza, whom Berry struck, and Tymerah Burgess, who was groped, according to WPLG.
“My number one role on any aircraft is to protect the passengers, including Maxwell Berry, who we did get to Miami safely that day,” Galarza reportedly said, adding that the tape used to restrain the passenger may have seemed “a bit barbaric, but it worked perfectly and no one got hurt because of how we did what we did.”
Galarza and Burgess gave impact statements about their ordeal and told WPLG they feel the two-month sentence is not enough time.
“He made an enemy of everyone on that flight,” Galarza said. “The people on that aircraft saw justice happen — more than what we saw today. I think it’s a disgusting miscarriage of justice, in my opinion.”
Berry’s parents told the court that he has always been a bright student, athlete and leader. However, the parents also acknowledged that it’s no excuse for his actions.
Berry’s lawyer, Jason Kreiss, also read from letters that were sent to the court on his client’s behalf.
“Mr. Berry is looking forward to putting this incident behind him,” Kreiss later told WPLG. “We presented significant mitigation to the court, but respect the court’s judgment in this case.”
Berry was also remorseful, saying he was embarrassed by his actions.
Judge Robert Scola Jr. told him there’s “no delete button” and that people cannot think they’re able to go on a plane and act this way, WPLG reported.
