Former CHP Captain Accused of Lewd Midair Behavior After Drinking Whole Bottle of Wine

There are certain things you expect on a flight—delays, cramped seats, maybe even a crying baby. What absolutely should not be on that list is a former California Highway Patrol captain allegedly drinking himself unconscious and flashing passengers. But that’s what prosecutors say happened on a JetBlue flight from Florida to Los Angeles.

One Bottle, Two Victims

According to the Department of Justice, 49-year-old Dennis Wally Woodbury boarded a JetBlue flight on April 13, heading west from Fort Lauderdale. At some point during the journey, he supposedly consumed an entire bottle of Prosecco, and what followed, well… it spiraled.

Before the plane even left the gate, Woodbury reportedly showed one of the flight attendants a picture that included explicit content — not something you’d expect on a phone passed casually mid-conversation. Then, as the hours passed, the behavior escalated.

“I Love You,” Then a Slap

At one point, he allegedly suggested to one male flight attendant that they should go on a cruise together. It sounds lighthearted at first — maybe even awkwardly friendly — but it didn’t stop there. A crude hand gesture followed. Later, he’s said to have slapped another attendant on the butt as he walked by, shouting, “I love you.”

That same attendant, moments before, had been collecting trays. A normal part of the job. What happened next… wasn’t.

Repeated Exposure and a Denied Drink

Flight staff say that after returning to the front galley, Woodbury exposed himself to one of the attendants. When confronted, he didn’t back down. Instead, he asked for more alcohol — which they refused. And that’s when, according to reports, he dropped his pants again.

It’s the kind of behavior you’d maybe expect in a bar thrown out of control, not on a plane at 30,000 feet.

No Consent. No Tolerance.

The attendants both stated clearly that they did not consent to any of the conduct. And JetBlue, in a formal statement, called the incident unacceptable, adding that they “immediately contacted law enforcement” and were fully cooperating.

Woodbury now faces a felony charge of abusive sexual contact within the U.S. special maritime and territorial jurisdiction — not exactly a minor legal issue. He was released on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on May 12.

Uniform Doesn’t Excuse Behavior

Woodbury had served as a CHP captain, though he was dismissed from that position prior to the flight. It’s not clear what led to his dismissal, but this incident certainly adds another layer to the story.

The maximum sentence for the charge is two years in federal prison. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — the passengers and crew aboard that flight will probably never forget it.

For those interested, here’s more about how federal airspace laws handle in-flight crimes: DOJ air jurisdiction report (PDF).