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SALT LAKE CITY — A "good looking" man accused of sneaking a knife past a Salt Lake International Airport security checkpoint last fall pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Thursday in federal court.
A grand jury last November indicted Cardon C. Ellis, 28, on one felony count of possession of a dangerous weapon while attempting to board an aircraft. That charge was reduced in April to a misdemeanor count of entry by false pretenses to the secure area of an airport. It carries a six-month jail term and $5,000 fine.
This was an error. I apologize.
–Cardon Ellis
U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball placed Ellis on probation for one year per an agreement between the prosecution and defense.
"This was an error," Ellis told the judge. "I apologize."
Ellis, an aspiring comedian and filmmaker, was a ticketed passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight to New York when, according to court documents, he bragged to another passenger that he could get a knife through security without being stopped.
After passing the TSA checkpoint, Ellis approached the other passenger and showed him the knife. The passenger became alarmed and notified a TSA official. When questioned by TSA officials, Ellis produced a Gerber multi-tool with several knife blades, according to court documents.
When asked while being booked into jail if he had any aliases, Ellis replied, "Good Looking."
Email:dromboy@ksl.com
