14 December 2004 – LAWFUEL – First with law news – Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael S. Clemens, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Timothy Brooks, Federal Security Director, West Palm Beach, Florida, announced today the conviction of defendant, Rosemary Schier, late yesterday, on charges of carrying a dangerous concealed weapon, an icepick, on board a US Airways flight originating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bound for Palm Beach International Airport. The case was tried non-jury before United States District Court Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley, and concluded yesterday, December 13th.
The defendant was convicted of two counts. The defendant was convicted of carrying a dangerous concealed weapon aboard an aircraft, in violation of Title 49, United States Code, Section 46505(b)(1), and of boarding an aircraft in violation of security requirements, in violation of Title 49, United States Code, Section 46314(a) and (b)(1).
On April 14, 2004, Schier boarded a US Airways flight in Philadelphia bound for Palm Beach International Airport. After the flight took off from the Philadelphia airport, other passengers noticed that Schier had what appeared to be a sharp object – the ice pick – concealed in one of her shirt sleeves. During the course of the flight, Schier took the ice pick from her sleeve and placed it in her purse which was open on her lap. Subsequently, a flight attendant, after being notified by other passengers, was able to secure possession of the ice pick.
The defendant faces a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of ten (10) years on the concealed weapon count and a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of one (1) year on the security requirements count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emalyn Webber.
