Judge: Woman with history of stowaway attempts will be jailed if she keeps going to airports
During the past year, a 63-year-old retired legal secretary with a penchant for spending time at airports—and, authorities fear, a yen for totally ticketless travel—has tested the resources of the judicial system in at least four states.
But on Thursday, an Illinois judge told Marilyn Hartman that she would be locked up if, once she is released, she continues to spend time at airports without a plane ticket, according to the Chicago Tribune.
In addition to ordering Hartman to stay away from airports, Cook County Circuit Judge William Raines also ordered a mental evaluation to determine if she is fit to be tried.
Hartman apparently won’t be exiting jail anytime soon: She told the judge she would not be able to pay her bond, which totals $750 on three charges, the newspaper reports. They include two alleged trespasses, at O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport, as well as a charge of violating a bond condition after her O’Hare arrest, by going to Midway less than two weeks later.
“A lot of resources are being spent on you nationally all over this country,” Raines told Hartman. “People are trying to help you.”
As detailed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, Hartman has been charged with multiple airplane stowaway attempts and actually taking one California flight without a ticket. But she has not spent much time behind bars. She has reportedly said that she enjoys spending time at airports because they are safer than living on the street.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Serial stowaway attempter is charged with trespassing at Chicago airports”
