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U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation


In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. 219 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604

 

 

July 24, 2002

Winfield Resident Charged with In-Flight Disturbance

Thomas J. Kneir, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced today the arrest of CHAMAINE LEE HESS, age 27, of Winfield, Illinois. HESS was taken into custody last night by FBI Agents at O'Hare International Airport, following an in-flight disturbance on Spirit Airways flight # 1440.

HESS was charged in a criminal complaint filed earlier today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of "Interference with a Flight Crew," which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, HESS was a passenger on the Spirit Airways flight, which departed from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at approximately 6:15 PM EST, en route to Chicago's O'Hare airport. While approximately 30 minutes away from touchdown, HESS became unruly and verbally abusive towards both flight crew members and other passengers. According to the complaint, she then began hitting and kicking a passenger seated next to her and a flight attendant who attempted to restrain her. An off-duty police officer, who was also a passenger on the flight, intervened and was able to keep HESS under control until the plane landed, without further incident. HESS was arrested by Chicago Police Officers when the plane landed and was subsequently turned over to the FBI.

HESS appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sidney I. Schenkier this afternoon and was released on a personal recognizance bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday, July 26th. If convicted of the charges, HESS could face up to 20 years in prison.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A copy of the complaint filed against HESS is available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 786-2645.




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