Woman convicted of groping airport screener

[Kat Kanning]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-26-woman-grops-screener_x.htm

Posted 7/26/2005 9:55 PM     Updated 7/26/2005 9:59 PM   

Woman convicted of groping screener
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) ? A woman who was upset over being searched bodily at an airport was convicted Tuesday of assaulting a security screener by grabbing the federal officer's breasts.

A federal jury heard the case against retired teacher Phyllis Dintenfass, who also allegedly shoved the screener during the search at the Outagamie County Regional Airport in Appleton in September 2004.

Dintenfass, 62, faces up to a year in federal prison and $100,000 in fines. The judge set sentencing for Nov. 1.

On Monday, Transportation Security Administration screening supervisor Anita Gostisha testified that Dintenfass activated metal detectors at a checkpoint, and she heard Dintenfass say she thought the problem was bobby pins and barrettes in her hair.

Gostisha said she took the woman to another screening area, where she used a handheld wand. Gostisha said she was following protocol when she also performed a "limited pat-down search."

Gostisha said she was using the back of her hands to search the area underneath Dintenfass' breasts when the woman lashed out at her.

"She said 'How would you like it if I did that to you?' and slammed me against the wall," Gostisha testified. "She came at me and grabbed my breasts and squeezed them."

Distenfass claimed she acted in self-defense.

"I said, 'What are you doing? No one's done that to me before,'" she said. "And she kept going ... for what felt like an interminably long time."

Dintenfass denied shoving Gostisha, but admitted putting her hands on the agent's breasts.

"I was mortified that I had done that," she said. "I was reacting to what felt like an absolute invasion of my body."

U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic said TSA officers perform a vital service and are entitled to protection from assault.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Sauce for the Gander, sauce for the Goose

[lildog]

This deserves a protest!

In fact I?m willing to help out by publicly groping every women who is willing to partake in this protest!? While I?m not sure what this will actually accomplish I am still willing to do my part for the cause!? ?

[Kat Kanning]

Such noble self-sacrifice!

[KBCraig]

Sauce for the Gander, sauce for the Goose

While both got groped, only one got charged and convicted. 

[Kat Kanning]

Both got groped?  Was it the left or the right?

[KBCraig]

Both got groped?  Was it the left or the right?

Okay, they both got both groped.

Better? 

Kevin

[AlanM]

Both got groped?? Was it the left or the right?

Okay, they both got both groped.

Better??

Kevin

Hey everybody! There's a new dance in town, we call the Patriot Grope.
You grope the left one first,
You grope the right one next,
You let your parner grope,
And just shake it all about,
You do the gropey dopey,
Then you shove your partner away,
And that's what it's all about! Hey!

[Dreepa]

This sucks!

[TackleTheWorld]

Hey!
Guess who was singled-out for advanced wanding at the Manchester airport just hours after being highly vexed by reading this thread?
Me.
The security area of MHT has clear plastic partitions dividing it into three rows.  The center row is for the pat down search.  I was calculating how much weight to throw at the screene rto accomplish a hockey-style body slam into the boards, but she didn't grope me.  I suspect Miss Dintenfass had metal in her undergarments, and I didn't.  My screener just patted my pockets. 

I had to console myself by re-reading the chapter Vin Suprynowitz's new book where the arthritic veteran snaps the neck of the TSA screener when he visits the bathroom.

[Dreepa]

Lucky you.

I can't remember when the last time I wasn't patted down.  But now thanks to Russel and Mike the police have to pat me down.
I also now started giggling very loudly and ask them please do not tickle me.

[Kat Kanning]

I wonder what the airport thugs would do if a woman just started screaming her head off when the screeners touched her?

[Dreepa]

I have been wanted to get the courage up to take off my belt and let my pants fall to my ankles and shuffle through the line.

[Kat Kanning]

LOL!  You'd need your wife there to take the pictures.

[Dreepa]

She is not amused at me in airports.

I got the 'special treatment' in Hawaii because I refused to take my shoes off and etc etc.  She was not happy that day.  But she might be willing to take that picture... in fact I could get my three year old to do it with me.... now that would be great.