Steve Slater Appears In Court, Bail Set At $2,500

JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater who found freedom Monday, quitting his job at the conclusion of Flight 1052 from Pittsburgh to New York City in madcap style reminiscent of a 1920’s screwball comedy, made his first appearance in a Queen’s New York courtroom Tuesday, Judge Mary O’Donoghue setting bail for the 38 year old at $2,500. He faces two felony charges, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. If convicted, he could face seven years in prison. His attorney, Howard Turman, declined to speculate on the source of stress leading to Slater’s abrupt decision, but there are numerous reports that Slate only recently returned to his position as a flight attendant, and had been caring first for his father who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, and is currently caring for his mother, who resides in California, and is terminally ill with lung cancer. According to media reports, when he was arrested late Monday, authorities found him in bed with his boyfriend, the boyfriend’s brother, 39 year old John Rochelle, saying he was “dumbfounded” by the day’s incident, adding that Slater is “an everyday ordinary guy, a nice guy.” A JetBlue co-worker, onboard the infamous Flight 1052, said Steven was a working-class hero, adding that “it’s something we all fantasize about, but we have kids and a mortgage or are just too chicken – or sane – to go through with (it).”