Originally Posted by OMAFlyer

Either way this ends up, this guy is probably toast. The consequences of a felony conviction (even if he never serves a day in prison) will kill all kinds of civil rights one enjoys in the US. From the facts that are available -- it looks like the prosecution has enough for a conviction. I don't see any reason for the prosecution to try and cut a deal for a misdemeanor here. They'll want to "make an example" of this guy, and have the facts (and the precedent) to do it.

Here's what else he can expect:

The publicity fallout from this will kill his companies prospects (even if he's never convicted, he'll face THAT fallout).

Goodbye to having an ownership stake in a publicly traded company.

Banks will refuse to give his company credit, citing the risk brought in by his felony conviction and/or publicity surrounding this event.

He'll probably be ineligible to vote (most jurisdictions take this away upon conviction of a felony).

Many of his existing clients will desert his firm, if they haven't already. No one wants to do business with a felon.

He will most likely end up draining his savings, and then trying to get a job. However, no one will hire him with a felony conviction. He'll be lucky to get a job drying down cars as they come out of a carwash (a felony will disqualify you from this job in many cases because you might steal the change out of the ashtray -- hey your past record indicates you have no respect for the law!).

Once he's out of cash, and unemployable -- I'd bet his wife leaves him for $greener pastures.

He may have to register as an FA Offender (ok, I made that one up, but I bet somebody at TSA is saying "hey, yeah -- great idea).

He's about to blow tens of thousands on some lucky lawfirm in what is seriously the battle of his life -- for all the above reasons -- and for what?
An argument on a plane with an FA? Over a glass of wine?

Win, lose, or draw -- the "system" will make sure this guy is a loser -- a HUGE loser -- for the rest of his life.

OR

The federal prosecutor could quietly drop it to a misdemeanor (disturbing the peace?), he pays a token fine, and goes on with his life, duly chastised.

Nah, its much more fun to take the big guy down!