Steven Slater

Criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and criminal trespass.  Steven Slater was charged with all that and became an international celebrity with an eager agent and lineup of clients.  The former JetBlue flight steward opened and jumped down an exit chute, raging fists filled with cold beers, after an alleged rude women broke his final straw at JFK.

At first he was received as a hero for laughing at authority in general and the airline industry especially (and by others for being a gay folk hero).  But much has changed in the last 71 days.  And today he pleaded guilty to felony-one attempted criminal mischief and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Celebrity outlaw Slater got celebrity justice from New York Supreme Court Judge Marcia Hirsch where he will not do the usual three-years in jail.  All he has to do is just sit in a comfortable chair listening to a head doctor and a social worker tell him it’s not his fault. The euphemism is mental health and alcohol abuse counseling.

“I believe the defendant has finally recognized the seriousness of his actions,” Queens D.A. Richard Brown said of Slater’s plea, while glancing at his calendar to re-election day.  “…under the circumstances, the disposition fairly balances the seriousness of the charges against the need for the defendant’s rehabilitation.”

How heavy a law book would a judge have thrown at you from a similar crime?