The Latest: Man accused of biting sentenced to probation

HONOLULU – The Latest on sentencing for a man accused of biting during a Hawaiian Airlines flight (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

A man accused of biting a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant must serve three years of probation for interfering with a flight crew.

Aumoeualogo Agaaoa Togia pleaded guilty in September to interfering with a flight crew during a July flight from American Samoa to Hawaii. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agree to dismiss an assault charge.

U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi said at the sentencing Thursday that Togia was severely intoxicated when he became physically violent. She says his behaviour created terror and fear. But she concludes that it wasn’t his typical behaviour.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar says Togia bit a male flight attendant’s hand.

Togia apologizes and says his behaviour was uncalled for.

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10:30 a.m.

A man accused of biting a Hawaiian Airlines employee during a July flight from American Samoa to Hawaii is being sentenced for interfering with a flight crew.

Aumoeualogo Agaaoa Togia is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday. He pleaded guilty in September to interfering with a flight crew. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agree to dismiss an assault charge.

An FBI affidavit after the flight says a drunken Togia bit the worker’s hand while Togia was being restrained because he had been yelling that he wanted to kill the crew. The court document says he later told an FBI agent that he might have blacked out and doesn’t remember what happened.

His public defender didn’t return a message seeking comment Thursday morning.