MD Man Who Punched Flight Agent At VA Airport Sentenced

DULLES, VA — A 54-year-old Maryland who was convicted in July of punching a gate agent at Washington Dulles International Airport was sentenced to two months in prison, according to court documents.

Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff also ordered Christopher Stuart Crittenden of Frederick, Maryland to pay $15,000 in restitution and a $1,000 fine on Thursday in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia, court records say.

Crittenden will also have to perform 50 hours of community service and participate in an approved mental health program, according to court documents.

In addition, the judge ordered Crttenden to not consume alcohol and submit to periodic substance abuse testing. If he shows signs of alcohol or substance abuse, he is required to participate in an approved substance abuse program, according to the sentencing document. He was also barred from entering any airport or boarding any aircraft for one year.

Crittenden pleaded guilty in federal court on July 8 to interfering with security screening personnel, according to court records. He was arrested in March for punching a gate agent at Washington Dulles International Airport.

After consuming multiple alcoholic beverages on March 13, Crittenden became irate about the delay of a flight and his seating assignment, court records say.

“Crittenden shouted expletives at a gate agent,” according to court documents. “The agent informed the flight captain, who was on the jet bridge, that Crittenden was likely inebriated and verbally harassing airline staff. The captain came to the gate to speak with Crittenden and ultimately informed him that he could not fly on the aircraft.”

Related: MD Man Who Punched Flight Agent At VA Airport Pleads Guilty

It was at that point that Crittenden punched the agent in the face, temporarily knocking him out, authorities say. Crittenden also tried to punch another gate agent, but that gate agent was able to avoid the assault.