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A flight attendant who police say tried to secretly report a 14-year-old lady utilizing an airplane rest room final September has pleaded not responsible to 2 counts in federal court docket in Boston.
Estes Carter Thompson III was indicted final month on one rely of tried sexual exploitation of kids and one rely of possession of photos of kid sexual abuse depicting a prepubescent minor.
Police additionally allege Thompson, 36, of Charlotte, North Carolina, had recordings of 4 different ladies — ages 7, 9, 11 and 14 — utilizing plane bathrooms.
Thompson was charged and arrested in January 2024 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He has been in federal custody since.
In keeping with investigators, about halfway by way of a Sept. 2, 2023, flight from Charlotte to Boston, the 14-year-old acquired up to make use of the principle cabin bathroom nearest to her seat however discovered it was occupied.
Thompson advised her the first-class bathroom was unoccupied and escorted her there, investigators mentioned. She advised investigators that earlier than she entered the lavatory, Thompson advised her he wanted to clean his arms and that the bathroom seat was damaged.
After he left, the teenager entered the lavatory and noticed crimson stickers on the underside of the bathroom seat lid, which was within the open place, officers mentioned. Beneath the stickers, Thompson had hid his iPhone to report a video, investigators mentioned. The lady used her cellphone to take an image of the stickers and hid iPhone earlier than leaving.
Prosecutors additionally allege lots of of photos of kid sexual abuse generated by way of synthetic intelligence have been discovered saved on Thompson’s iCloud account, in addition to the pictures of the opposite 4 ladies captured on earlier flights.
American Airways mentioned following his arrest that Thompson was “instantly withheld from service” and hadn’t labored for the airline for the reason that cellphone was found.
Tried sexual exploitation of kids carries a sentence of 15-30 years in jail, whereas possessing photos of sexual abuse of a prepubescent minor can imply as much as 20 years in jail.
Each fees additionally present for at the least 5 years and as much as a lifetime of supervised launch, a advantageous of as much as $250,000 and restitution.
Thompson is due again in court docket on July 1.
