05/17/2008

Associated Press

A California woman who drunkenly assaulted a flight attendant while traveling to her sister's funeral has been sentenced to time served and 200 hours of community service.

She must also write letters apologizing to Horizon Air and the attendant.

Krista Bauer, 23, of Hanford, Calif., was arrested after the Aug. 25, 2007, flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Billings, Mont., had to return to Sea-Tac. Days earlier, Bauer's older sister had died violently.

Bauer spent 36 days in custody, plus 60 at a treatment facility.

"But for the tragic circumstances involving your family, you could have been facing ... additional prison time," U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said Friday when he sentenced her.

According to court documents, Bauer got out of her seat shortly after takeoff and walked toward the front of the cabin. The flight attendant told Bauer to return to her seat, but instead, Bauer grabbed the attendant around the head and neck and made statements such as, "If anyone is going to die tonight it'll be you."