Airline passenger accused of sexual assault threat during a flight to Tri-Cities

An Arizona man on a flight to the Tri-Cities Airport has been indicted on suspicion of threatening to commit sexual abuse on an aircraft and also simple assault on an aircraft during the flight.

Ronald Lee Van Note II is scheduled to make his first appearance before a judge on Tuesday at the Richland federal courthouse .

He was on Allegiant Air flight 2267, which originated in Mesa, Ariz., and landed in Pasco on May 18, according to court documents.

He is accused of threatening to engage in a sexual act with another person on the flight, which is a felony that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

He also is accused of intentionally touching the person without their consent, a misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to six months incarceration, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Eastern Washington.