INDIANAPOLIS (WIND- NEWS INDY) - A judge has sentenced a South Carolina man who was accused of stripping naked at an Indiana airport during a security screening and assaulting a TSA officer.

George Stevens, 38, pleaded guilty to interference with security screening personnel and assault of a federal officer in an incident, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II sentenced Stevens to 33 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after Stevens' release.

Court documents state Stevens was passing through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at the Indianapolis International Airport at approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 15, 2023. When he moved through a screening machine, an alarm sounded indicating additional screening was required. A TSA officer asked him to step aside for a pat-down search and he complied while the officer patted down his chest, prosecutors said. When the officer began patting down his outer and inner groin area, he called the officer a “freak” approximately four times, prompting the officer to call a supervisor, a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office states.

“The supervisor who responded to the radio call observed that Stevens appeared intoxicated, was not complying with the TSO’s instructions, and was repeating phrases such as ‘I don’t have nothing' and ‘I’m just trying to get home,‘” the release states.

The supervisor instructed Stevens to remove his belt and hold his pants up by his belt loops, and he dropped into a squat and shook his buttocks at the supervisor and other officers, prosecutors said.

The supervisor halted two screening lanes and requested an Indianapolis Airport Police officer, at which point he squatted and shook his buttocks at other officers.  Prosecutors said that when Stevens learned police were on the way he became agitated and said, ‘I don’t have nothing' and ‘What do you want to see?’ and pulled his jeans and underwear to his ankles, exposing himself to TSA officers and fellow passengers.

Police said he continued to disrobe as they arrived, placing his jeans over the supervisor’s shoulder and forcibly pressing his underwear into the supervisor’s face before throwing it at the supervisor.

He removed his socks and, while completely naked, began “advancing toward the supervisor,” the release states. Police then placed him under arrest.

“The entirety of Stevens’ lewd assault occurred in full view of the traveling public, including families with small children, who were attempting to navigate the security checkpoint and get to their flights,” the release states. “Prior to this incident, Stevens had sustained an extensive criminal history spanning multiple years, including multiple convictions for domestic violence and firearms offenses.” Steven’s sentence was at the top of the range for U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

“This sentence underscores the FBI’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for criminal acts against those who serve and safeguard the public,” FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton said.

“Let this message be heard far and wide; the lewd and violent behavior towards security staff demonstrated by Mr. Stevens in this case will not be tolerated in this district, and it will be prosecuted to the fullest extent,” the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, John E. Childress, said.