Oregon woman who licked, groped, and propositioned teenage passenger gets 8 months home detention

An Oregon woman who licked, groped, verbally harassed then propositioned a female teen passenger during a flight from Las Vegas to Portland was sentenced Monday to eight months of home detention.

Heidi McKinney, 27, of Banks declined to make a statement during Monday’s sentencing at the federal courthouse in Portland, The Oregonian reported. McKinney, who wrote a letter of apology to the victim, pleaded guilty in March to assault with intent to commit a felony.

In addition to home detention, McKinney was sentenced to three years on probation. She must also pay US$3,000 restitution and abstain from alcohol.

McKinney was arrested May 8, 2016, after the Alaska Airlines flight landed at Portland International Airport. The 19-year-old victim told authorities she had been touched without consent.

Assistant US Attorney Ravi Sinha wrote in a sentencing memo last week that the prolonged abuse started before the plane departed. Sinha said McKinney, who appeared to have been drinking, tried to speak with the young woman, but the victim was reluctant.

The prosecutor said it was “partly because the way in which Ms McKinney had inappropriately touched the victim’s chest, and partly because Ms McKinney’s ‘small talk’ consisted of repeatedly insulting the victim’s perceived economic status and bragging of her own purported wealth.”