Gardnerville man pleads guilty to interference with flight crew, faces 20 years in prison

A Gardnerville, Nevada man pleaded guilty on Monday to interference with flight crew members and assault during a flight from Seattle to Las Vegas.

Daniel A. Parkhurst, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, and one count of simple assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He will be sentenced on June 24, 2022. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years in prison for interference with flight crew members and attendants, and six months in prison for simple assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.

According to court documents and admissions made in court by Parkhurst, on October 31, 2019, he intimidated flight crew members and flight attendants on a Southwest Airlines flight from Seattle to Las Vegas. During the flight, he assaulted another passenger. The resulting disturbance involved flight attendants and other passengers and interfered with the performance of the flight crew’s and flight attendants’ duties. Parkhurst’s actions caused the aircraft to be diverted from its flight to Las Vegas and it instead landed in Reno.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Reno-Tahoe International Airport Police Department, Office of the Nevada Attorney General, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Carson City Sheriff’s Office.

If you think you are a victim of assault aboard an aircraft, please report the incident to your flight crew and to the FBI at www.tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or contact your local FBI office.