Alaska Man Sentenced in Federal Court for Sexual Assault of Teen Aboard Anchorage–Seattle Flight

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — A federal court in Seattle has sentenced an Alaska man to prison following his conviction for sexually assaulting a minor while seated next to her aboard a commercial airline flight from Anchorage to Seattle.

Trayton C. Ballot, 29, of Deering, Alaska, was sentenced on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, to 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge John H. Chun in the Western District of Washington. Ballot was convicted by a federal jury on September 10, 2025, after a two-day trial. The offense occurred in January 2025 during an overnight Alaska Airlines flight.

According to evidence presented at trial, the victim, a 17-year-old girl, was traveling with her mother and a family friend. She was seated in a window seat near the rear of the aircraft, with Ballot occupying the adjacent middle seat. While the victim was asleep, Ballot placed his hand on her inner thigh. After she awoke and removed his hand, Ballot repeated the contact multiple times despite her clear resistance.

Court records show that the victim attempted to prevent further contact by positioning the aircraft tray table and personal items to create a barrier. Despite these efforts, Ballot again attempted to place his hand on the victim’s thigh before ultimately ceasing contact.

The victim alerted her mother by showing a typed message on her phone describing the conduct. At her mother’s direction, the victim notified flight attendants. The flight crew relocated the victim to another seat for the remainder of the flight.

Upon arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Ballot was taken into custody by law enforcement. He was charged with abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft, a federal offense due to the jurisdiction of crimes committed during commercial air travel.

At sentencing, Judge Chun stated that the offense was serious and carried lasting consequences for the victim. The court ordered Ballot to serve 18 months in federal custody followed by 10 years of supervised release.

Federal prosecutors emphasized that aircraft cabins present conditions that increase vulnerability to sexual assault, including close seating arrangements, limited passenger movement, reduced lighting during overnight flights, and limited opportunities for immediate intervention without assistance from flight crews. Prosecutors stated that these factors heighten the duty of accountability for offenses committed during flight and support sentences intended to deter similar conduct.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Port of Seattle Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Forstein and Cindy Chang of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

Federal authorities reiterated that abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft is a federal crime and stated that prompt reporting to flight crews and law enforcement allows for immediate protective action and preserves evidence for investigation.

Ballot will serve his term in federal custody followed by a period of supervised release. Officials stated that the case reflects continued federal enforcement efforts to address in-flight sexual assaults and to ensure that criminal conduct committed in transit is prosecuted with the same seriousness as offenses committed on the ground.

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