RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A California couple are facing federal charges after they refused to stop "overt sexual activity" during a flight to Raleigh, authorities said. Carl Warren Persing of Lakewood, Calif., and Dawn Elizabeth Sewell of Huntington Beach, Calif., are accused of interfering with flight crew members during a Sept. 15 Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles with a stop in Phoenix. They face a Dec. 11 trial date in U.S. District Court in Wilmington.
According to court documents, flight attendants saw Persing and Sewell kissing, embracing and "acting in a manner that made other passengers uncomfortable" while the plane was stopped in Phoenix. Persing was observed kissing Sewell near her breast and was also observed with his face pressed against Sewell's lower body.
A flight attendant asked them to stop. They obeyed initially but resumed the behavior during the flight from Phoenix to Raleigh.
When the flight attendant again requested them to stop, Persing allegedly told the flight attendant: "I'm going to give you one warning to get out of my face."
Persing and Sewell continued the verbal harassment after a flight attendant refused to serve Persing alcohol, according to court documents.
Law enforcement officials were waiting for the couple when they arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Messages left by The Associated Press for Persing and Sewell's attorneys were not immediately returned.
