California Man Sentenced for Walking onto Flight

REDWOOD CITY -- A transient was sentenced to two years probation Thursday after he passed through a security checkpoint at San Francisco International Airport and boarded a plane without a ticket.

Minh Ngoc Pham, 53, who pleaded no contest to misdemeanor commercial burglary, was arrested Jan. 2 after he illegally boarded an American West flight bound for Las Vegas.

According to prosecutors, airline personnel noticed Pham because the flight was full and he was left without a seat.

Pham, who has reportedly been a "problem" at the airport, allegedly said he wanted to "fly anywhere except San Jose" at the time of his arrest, according to prosecutors.

Pham was sentenced to two years court probation and he must avoid the airport. He was also sentenced to 25 days in jail, time which he has already served.

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