Leigha Simonton, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
William R. McKelvy, a 65-year-old resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was found guilty of abusive sexual contact on Wednesday after a jury trial. The announcement came from Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Nancy E. Larson.
The incident occurred on April 25, 2023, during a Southwest Airlines flight from Tulsa to Dallas. Evidence presented at the trial indicated that McKelvy groped a female passenger sitting next to him on four separate occasions. Initially thinking it might have been accidental or due to fear of flying, the victim later pushed McKelvy away and instructed him to refrain from touching her. Despite this warning, McKelvy continued his actions until the victim shouted at him in protest.
The disturbance drew attention from other passengers who intervened and informed a flight attendant. Consequently, McKelvy was relocated to the back of the plane for the remainder of the journey and police were notified to meet him upon arrival at Love Field Airport in Dallas.
Upon being questioned by officers after landing, McKelvy admitted to vaping during the flight but minimized his behavior towards the victim as mere "flirting." He claimed he could not recall details due to alcohol and marijuana consumption prior to boarding.
After less than half an hour of deliberation, the jury returned with a guilty verdict against McKelvy.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson emphasized that no individual should face such misconduct aboard an aircraft and praised those who acted swiftly in response: “We applaud the swift response of fellow passengers, crew members, and our law enforcement partners in this case."
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock reiterated that sexual assault on an aircraft is federally investigated by the FBI: “It is because of fellow passengers and the flight crew that the defendant was detained and charged.”
McKelvy's sentencing is scheduled for September 8, 2025, before United States Chief District Judge David C. Godbey. He faces up to three years in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Dallas Police Department with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas Brasher and Madeleine Case.
