On June 23, 2022, on a redeye flight from Los Angeles to Orlando, a 13-year-old girl was
sexually assaulted. She was sitting two rows away from her family when the lights went off and
people fell asleep. The predator, Brian Patrick Durning, a 52-year-old resident of California, took
advantage of these circumstances and placed one of his hands between the child’s legs when a
passenger caught him and intervened. Durning was sentenced to five years in federal prison
followed by three years of supervised release (U.S Department of Justice, 2023). Analyzing this
crime through the lens of criminological theories is crucial in understanding its fundamental
dynamics and extensive implications. Criminological theories provide a structured framework
meant to provide an in-depth comprehension of the motivations, behaviors, and societal factors
that contribute to criminal activity. Indeed, raising awareness and analyzing this incident within
the context of criminological may eventually contribute to the reduction of crime and
victimization. By providing various perspectives on this crime, the purpose of this paper is to
determine which criminological theory offers the most comprehensive explanation for it.
Delving into criminological theories, the Routine Activities Theory enlightens some
crucial aspects of the crime by emphasizing how the combination of a 13-year-old girl away
from her family and the dark cabin of the aircraft, made an auspicious atmosphere for the
predator to act. This element is consistent with the theory’s assumption that motivated criminals
are more likely to perform in the absence of adequate guardianship. However, this theory
neglects the offender’s unique motivations and fails in providing behavioral patterns. This theory
also indicates that increasing guardianship, such as having alert passengers around, might
dissuade possible offenders. However, the hypothesis may be less helpful in avoiding crimes
motivated by deeper psychological impulses. In terms of prediction, this theory’s success relies
on the availability or absence of eligible targets, adequate guardianship, and motivated offenders.
