Alaska Man Convicted of In-Flight Sexual Assault

SEATTLE – Trayton C. Ballot, a 28-year-old man from the remote Alaskan village of Deering, was convicted Wednesday of abusive sexual contact aboard an Alaska Airlines flight. The conviction follows a two-day trial in U.S. District Court, where jurors found Ballot repeatedly violated the boundaries of a 17-year-old female passenger for his own sexual gratification. The details, frankly, are sickening.

According to court records, the incident unfolded on a January 15, 2025 flight from Anchorage to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The victim, traveling with her mother and a friend, was seated next to Ballot. While seemingly asleep, Ballot began to intentionally rub the inner thigh of the teenage girl. She repeatedly removed his hand, but he persisted – three times attempting the unwanted contact.

The victim, understandably terrified, took matters into her own hands. After the third attempt, she strategically lowered her tray table and wedged a stuffed animal beneath it, creating a physical barrier. But Ballot, undeterred, attempted to circumvent the obstacle, reaching under the armrest to again touch her thigh. Only the victim’s forceful pressure on the stuffed animal prevented further assault. She then discreetly texted her mother, seated a row behind, exposing Ballot’s predatory behavior.

The mother immediately instructed her daughter to alert flight attendants, who swiftly intervened and relocated the victim to a different seat. Upon arrival at SeaTac, Ballot was taken into custody by authorities. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the conviction, a small victory in a world where predators too often go unchecked. The FBI, with assistance from the Port of Seattle Police, led the investigation.

The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before reaching a unanimous verdict. U.S. District Judge John H. Chun will deliver the sentence on December 15, 2025. Ballot now faces a potential prison term of up to two years. Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn Forstein and Cindy Chang are prosecuting the case, seeking justice for a victim subjected to a horrifying ordeal at 30,000 feet.

This case serves as a stark reminder that sexual assault knows no boundaries – not even the confines of an airplane cabin. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. The victim’s courage in coming forward deserves recognition, and hopefully, this conviction will send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated.

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