JetBlue Passenger Indicted On Additional Charges Of Assault
Szele Accused Of Interfering With Flight Attendants
POSTED: 3:13 pm MDT July 8, 2008
UPDATED: 3:46 pm MDT July 8, 2008
DENVER -- A woman accused of punching a flight attendant was indicted Monday on an additional charge of assaulting a second JetBlue employee.The indictment also formalizes charges of assault and interference of flight attendants previously filed against Christina Elizabeth Szele.Szele, 35, was first charged on June 18 after she allegedly refused to put out a cigarette she was smoking while on the plane. She is accused of breaking restraints and punching the flight attendant who confronted her in the face. Szele then allegedly assaulted a second attendant who was asked to sit next to her during the flight.
In response to the disturbance, the JetBlue flight made an alternate landing to Denver International Airport. The flight was traveling from California to New York.The New York resident was freed on a $10,000 bond and is not allowed to travel by air under restrictions stated in the bond. She must travel to Denver by bus or car to attend future court dates.If convicted of interference with a flight crew, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine. If convicted of assault, Szele faces up to six months in prison and up to a $10,000 fine for each of the two counts.Szele will be arraigned on July 11 in U.S. District Court in Denver.
Copyright 2008 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.





