Woman faces 10yrs imprisonment after improperly touching another female passenger on board flight

A 27-year-old Oregon woman, Heidi McKinney pleaded guilty on Friday to a felony assault charge that was filed after a female passenger complained that she had been groped during a flight from Las Vegas to Portland.

She was arrested May 8, 2016, after the Alaska Airlines Flight 621 landed at Portland International Airport.

The former Portland Community College student was booked into the Multnomah County Jail and released on $2,500 bail the following day.

She told Fox 12 on her release from jail: 'Don't believe everything you hear.'

The unidentified victim told authorities she had been touched on the breast and genitals without consent by another female passenger.

'Miss McKinney did so with the intent to humiliate and harass the victim,' said Assistant US Attorney Ravi Sinha at US District Court in Portland. '(She) both made contact with victim's body, including her inner thigh, and made a series of profane and lewd statements to the victim.'

A federal grand jury originally indicted McKinney on a charge of abusive sexual contact. She ultimately pleaded guilty to assault with the intent to commit a felony.

The maximum penalty is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. However, Sinha and defense attorney Lisa Ludwig plan to jointly recommend a sentence of three years on probation.