6 months for man who sexually assaulted woman on Seattle flight

Published 11:30 am Tuesday, June 25, 2024

SEATTLE — A former commercial airline mechanic was sentenced to six months behind bars Tuesday, after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a young woman on a flight to Seattle last year.

Duane Brick, 53, pleaded guilty in March to abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft, stemming from an incident reported by a 24-year-old woman while on a plane from Phoenix on March 20, 2023.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the woman had taken anti-anxiety medication due to a fear of flying, before putting on headphones and falling asleep.

When she awoke, Brick had grabbed her hand and placed it on his crotch. He continued to touch her multiple times after that, on her face, head, arms and breasts.

When he tried to put his hand down her pants, she repeatedly told him “no,” the Justice Department said. He continued trying to touch the victim, despite her turning her body away. A witness in a nearby seat reported what they saw to flight attendants.

Brick, who was an employee of the airline, left shortly after landing.

At the sentencing hearing Tuesday, U.S. District Judge James H. Chun called the crime serious and frightening.

“He was clearly a predator. He checked to see if she was responsive and when she was not, he continued the abuse,” the judge said.

Brick was terminated by the airline. In addition to federal prison time, he was sentenced to five years of supervised release.