Seattle Man Convicted of Sexual Assault on Flight from Montana

Seattle, WA. — A 55-year-old Seattle man was convicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle of abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft, federal prosecutors announced.

A jury found Keith Witt guilty of molesting a 19-year-old woman during an Aug. 11, 2023 flight from Billings to Seattle. Jurors deliberated for approximately 90 minutes following a two-day trial. Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2026, before Ricardo S. Martinez.

According to court testimony, the victim was seated in the window seat while Witt occupied the aisle seat during the 90-minute flight. Prosecutors said Witt engaged her in personal conversation that made her uncomfortable and repeatedly invaded her space. The victim testified she pretended to sleep in an effort to avoid further interaction.

She told jurors that Witt gradually moved his hand onto her seat, then onto her thigh, and continued moving toward the hem of her shorts. When she flinched, he briefly removed his hand before resuming contact. The victim said she observed that Witt appeared sexually aroused.

The woman left her seat and reported the incident to flight attendants, then locked herself in the restroom while texting her mother about what had happened. Flight crew members moved Witt to the back of the plane and alerted authorities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Officers with the Port of Seattle Police met the aircraft and interviewed both Witt and the victim. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Port of Seattle Police.

During closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Yemini told jurors the victim had no motive to fabricate the allegation, noting she immediately reported the conduct and later testified in court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Wynne argued that Witt’s claim the contact was inadvertent while he was asleep was not credible.

Abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.