The court trial revealed an extremely severe crime committed by American Airlines employee Estes Carter Thompson, who was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison for systematic sexual abuse of minors.
The investigation began after a 14-year-old girl discovered a hidden phone mounted in an airplane bathroom that was secretly filming her. The incident was recorded in January 2024 in Lynchburg County, Virginia, which led to the immediate detention of the employee.
The official charges included two main components: attempt to sexually exploit minors and possession of child pornography. Federal Judge Julia Kubik described his actions as "extremely destructive" and emphasized the deep emotional trauma inflicted on the victims.
The investigation found that Thompson, who is from Charlotte, North Carolina, had filmed four girls aged between 7 and 14 years old over nine months. The prosecution stated that he "stole the innocence" of the children, causing them serious psychological damage.
During the court hearing, the defendant apologized, describing his own actions as "selfish and wrong". His lawyers reported that he will be placed in a specialized medical facility in North Carolina and will undergo a mandatory therapeutic program for sexual offenders.
The 18.5-year prison sentence demonstrates the exceptional severity of the justice system towards such serious crimes against children, sending a clear message of intolerance towards sexual violence.