Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Governor tells grads about her former closeted life ... Lane County judge addresses concerns about 30-day sentence for dog-beater ... Unions submit signatures for Oregon corporate tax hike proposal ... Governor tells grads about her former closeted life ... Lane County judge addresses concerns about 30-day sentence for dog-beater ... Unions submit signatures for Oregon corporate tax hike proposal ... COURTS Oregon man gets probation for placing fake bomb on plane Oregon man gets probation for airliner incident Comment By Steven DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted May. 12, 2016 at 6:25 PM By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted May. 12, 2016 at 6:25 PM » Social News PORTLAND — An Oregon man who placed a fake bomb in a restroom during an international flight — and then reported it to look like a hero — has avoided a prison term. Instead, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman sentenced Sean Davies to five years on probation and ordered him to pay restitution to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Prosecutors recommended the sentence because the 23-year-old from coastal Oregon has no prior arrests, has been received treatment for alcoholism and also landed a steady job as a salesman at a jewelry store in a Portland suburb. "I do want you to understand that this arrest and this conviction really are an arrow in life pointing you to a terrible place," Mosman warned. "And only by your own actions can you get off that path." KLM Flight 569 was 3 ½ hours into a flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, when Davies told a member of the cabin crew there was a strange wire coming out of a cabinet in the restroom, leading to an electrical socket. The flight captain eventually inspected the miniature wine bottle with some cables attached to it and figured it was probably a prank. But after consulting with KLM security, the plane was diverted to Cairo, Egypt. The NL Times, which provides English-language news about the Netherlands, reported at the time of the October 2014 incident that 271 passengers were aboard the flight and there was no panic. Egyptian authorities interviewed Davies because the flight crew suspected him of planting the device. Davies denied involvement and he continued with the trip. Davies returned to the U.S. from Africa in December 2014. Dutch police interviewed him while he changed planes in Amsterdam. Davies told them he made frequent trips to the bathroom during the October flight because he is an alcoholic and has kidney stones, and that he no longer had his iPhone charger because it burst into flames while in Africa. The FBI and Port of Portland police met him when he returned to U.S. soil. He initially agreed to take a polygraph test and then declined. The polygrapher told him the test wasn't necessary, because it was obvious he was lying. Davies then confessed, saying he built the fake bomb with a wine bottle, an e-cigarette battery, water, soap, an iPhone charging cord and the earphones distributed on the flight. He said he had been feeling down about himself and wanted to appear heroic. Davies pleaded guilty in February to conveying false information concerning a device which could destroy or damage an aircraft. He apologized Thursday to the airline, the passengers, the U.S. Government and his family. Davies said he's no longer the irresponsible "boy" who committed that act. "They say you never learn if you don't make mistakes. While my mistakes have been a little larger than what I would like, I needed to have this kick so I could realize the path I was headed on." KLM calculated its losses from the incident to be $85,330. Davies has already paid half the money. By Steven DuBois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven DuBois The Associated Press Posted May. 12, 2016 at 6:25 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501