A man from Deering, Alaska, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for abusive sexual contact with a minor on an Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage to Seattle. Trayton C. Ballot, 29, was convicted by a jury in September 2025 after a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Seattle. The sentencing was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John H. Chun described the offense as “a serious and scary crime with lasting consequences for the victim.”
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd stated, “The Western District of Washington has received a significant number of reported sexual assaults on aircraft in the last several years. 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.”
Court records show that the incident involved a 17-year-old girl who was traveling with her mother and friend on an overnight flight in January 2025. Ballot was seated next to her and repeatedly touched her thigh while she slept, despite her efforts to stop him by removing his hand and placing barriers such as her tray table and a stuffed animal.
After multiple attempts by Ballot to touch her again, the victim notified her mother using her phone and informed flight attendants, who then moved her to another seat. Ballot was arrested upon arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
In court, the victim said she felt “trapped in a small place where I could not defend myself…. It was predatory – attacking me while I was asleep.”
Prosecutors argued for a two-year sentence due to the unique risks associated with air travel: “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 also ordered Ballot to serve ten years of supervised release following his prison term.
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office, said: “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. 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 investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from Port of Seattle Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn Forstein and Cindy Chang.
