Seattle man sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting 19-year-old teen on commercial plane

Keith Witt was found guilty in February 2026 of abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft following the disturbing August 11, 2023, incident on a 90-minute flight from Billings, Montana, to Seattle. US District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez handed down the sentence in Seattle federal court, noting Witt’s false testimony at trial in a clear attempt to deceive the jury.

“It was a deliberate attempt to get the jurors to look at the evidence in a different light… Perjured testimony to try to convince the jury the conduct did not happen,” the judge said. “Abusive sexual contact on an aircraft is a serious offense with serious consequences.”

According to court records and trial testimony, the victim was seated in the window seat with Witt in the aisle seat beside her. He immediately struck up a conversation, asking personal questions that made her uncomfortable, and touched her shoulder and her earbuds while invading her personal space. The teen moved as close to the window as possible and pretended to sleep to avoid further interaction.

Even then, Witt allegedly began touching her. His hand first moved to her seat and thigh, then slid upward along her inner thigh. He briefly stopped when a flight attendant passed by, but resumed once the attendant left. The victim flinched multiple times, causing him to pull away momentarily, only for him to return his hand and creep closer toward her genitalia. She later told investigators she opened one eye and saw Witt appearing sexually aroused, rubbing his erection.

When his hand came within one to two inches of her private area, the victim pretended to wake up and fled to the lavatory at the front of the plane. In tears, she reported the assault to the flight crew and texted her mother. Crew members relocated Witt to the back of the plane and alerted authorities. Port of Seattle Police met the flight at SeaTac Airport and interviewed both parties.

Prosecutors had asked for 21 months, emphasizing the unique vulnerability of passengers on airplanes. “A plane is a uniquely vulnerable environment: passengers are often seated in proximity to strangers, with little room and few options for removing themselves from unwanted situations,” they wrote in their sentencing memo. They highlighted how dimmed cabin lights, sleeping passengers, and limited visibility embolden predators who believe they can act with impunity.

First Assistant US Attorney Charles Neil Floyd praised the Western District of Washington’s aggressive approach: “The office has prosecuted at least 15 of these cases in the last three years, and at least six of these cases have gone to trial before a jury—each resulting in a guilty verdict. We will keep doing this work to get justice for victims and to deter those who mistakenly think such conduct on an aircraft will escape punishment.”

In addition to the 18-month prison term, Judge Martinez ordered Witt to pay a $10,000 fine, more than $4,000 in restitution to the victim, and five years of supervised release. He must also register as a sex offender.

The judge commended the young woman’s courage in coming forward, observing that these crimes happen more often than reported. Many victims choose silence rather than endure the ordeal of reporting and trial. “The courage this young woman showed in reporting her traumatic and disturbing experience to the flight crew is admirable,” added W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office.