DENVER, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- A Nevada man accused of looking at pornography and fondling himself while on a Southwest Airlines flight was arrested, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Justice officials said the man, identified as 63-year-old Daniel Drinan, was taken into custody Saturday at Denver International Airport on charges of committing lewd, indecent or obscene acts in public aboard an aircraft, CNN reported.
During a court appearance Monday in Denver, Drinan was advised of his rights and an attorney was appointed to represent him, Justice Department spokesman Jeffrey Dorschner said. He was released on his own recognizance on the condition that he not fly, including to future court appearances, Dorschner said.
Drinan was arrested following a flight to Denver from Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Maryland, CNN said. An affidavit filed with the criminal complaint said Drinan sat down, hooked up his laptop computer to the airline's Internet service and began viewing pornography.
A person seated near him noticed he was fondling himself and alerted a flight attendant, the affidavit said. A male attendant arrived at Drinan's seat, saw that the man's genitals were exposed and told him to "put his pants back together," the Justice Department said.
Drinan allegedly tried to use his laptop to shield his activity, investigators said.
Drinan, whose hometown couldn't be confirmed, will be arraigned Sept. 19, Dorschner said.
