Prosecutors have opted against pursuing charges against a Connecticut couple accused of engaging in sexual activity on a JetBlue flight from John F. Kennedy Airport to Sarasota, Fla.
Documents obtained by the Smoking Gun on Wednesday show Florida officials dropped their felony case late last week against Trista Reilly, 43, and Christopher Arnold, 42.
The Bristol couple had been facing charges of “lewd or lascivious exhibition” after at least two minors allegedly witnessed them performing sex acts while on that July 19 flight.
One witness reportedly told police that she was traveling with her two children when they saw Reilly gratify Arnold by hand during takeoff. The passenger claimed Riley noticed the kids were watching, but continued to act inappropriately, at one point allegedly appearing to perform oral sex.
A flight attendant reportedly told police that “several youths” witnessed the alleged sexual activity taking place on JetBlue Flight 163, and that he himself “witnessed her making up and down movements with her head while she was facedown on Mr. Arnold’s lap.”
Reilly and Arnold were taken into custody when their flight landed in Sarasota around 11:30 a.m., according to local station WSSB.
Florida prosecutors didn’t give an explanation for their decision to drop the case. JetBlue couldn’t immediately be reached to comment on the couple’s standing with the airline.
