Deering, Alaska, man sentenced to prison for sexual assault of teen seated next to him on flight from Anchorage to Seattle

Seattle - A 29-year-old Deering, Alaska man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for abusive sexual contact on board an aircraft, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Trayton C. Ballot was arrested on January 15, 2025, when the Alaska Airlines flight he was on arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International airport. Ballot was convicted by a jury on September 10, 2025, following a two-day trial. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John H. Chun said, "This is a serious and scary crime with lasting consequences for the victim."

"The Western District of Washington has received a significant number of reported sexual assaults on aircraft in the last several years," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. "This sentence should serve as a warning to others who think they can take advantage of a plane's environment to abuse vulnerable victims. We will take these cases, and take them to trial if necessary, to get justice for victims."

According to records filed in the case, the 17-year-old victim was flying with her mother and a friend on an overnight flight 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, who was asleep, woke up to the touching and 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.

Speaking in court today, the victim said she was "trapped in a small place where I could not defend myself…. It was predatory - attacking me while I was asleep."

In asking for a two-year prison sentence prosecutors noted that the unique qualities of air travel require additional vigilance, and a deterrence message. "Sexual assaults on airplanes are a distressingly prevalent risk of modern airline travel…. In several ways, a plane is a uniquely vulnerable environment: passengers are often seated in close proximity to strangers, with little room and few options for removing themselves from unwanted situations; passengers regularly attempt to sleep on planes while sitting next to unknown persons; and outside of a passenger's immediate neighbors, there is limited visibility and a low likelihood of witnesses, particularly when cabin lights are dimmed."

Judge Chun ordered Ballot to complete 10 years of supervised release following prison.

"I commend the bravery displayed by this underage victim, and her mother, in speaking up for her safety by reporting this crime to the flight crew," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "Sexual misconduct aboard aircraft is a federal crime, one the FBI investigates and takes seriously. We encourage victims and witnesses to report such crimes to the flight crew; Port of Seattle Police or your local airport police; and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov."

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.