Deering, Alaska man convicted of abusive sexual contact on airline flight to Seattle

Seattle - A 28-year-old Deering, Alaska man was convicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle of abusive sexual contact, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Trayton C. Ballot was arrested on January 15, 2025, when the Alaska Airlines flight he was on arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International airport. The jury deliberated about an hour following a two-day trial. Jurors found Ballot repeatedly rubbed the inner thigh of a 17-year-old seated next to him on the plane for his sexual gratification. Ballot faces up to two years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on December 15, 2025.

According to records filed in the case, the 17-year-old victim was flying with her mother and a friend from Anchorage to Seattle. Ballot was seated in the middle seat in a row near the back of the plane. The victim was in the window seat. Ballot appeared to be asleep but then moved his hand onto the victim's inner thigh and began rubbing her thigh. The victim removed Ballot's hand. Two more times Ballot moved his hand onto the 17-year-old's inner thigh, and she removed his hand. After the third time, the victim lowered her tray table and wedged a stuffed animal under it to protect her lap. Despite those barriers, Ballot moved his hand under the armrest and attempted to place it over the victim's thigh. The victim pressed down on the stuffed animal to stop the assault and Ballot took his hand away.

The victim typed into her phone that the man seated next to her had touched her and showed the message to her mother who was seated in the row behind her. At her mother's instruction, the victim notified the flight attendants who moved her to a different seat.

Ballot was arrested when the plane arrived in Seattle.

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Port of Seattle Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn Forstein and Cindy Chang.