DENVER >> A Spirit Airlines passenger accused of groping a flight attendant as she walked by faces a federal charge of abusive sexual contact on an aircraft.

Twenty-four-year-old Evan Nathaniel Castle, of Thornton, Colo., was free on a personal recognizance bond Monday.

FBI agent Martin Daniell says in court documents that Castle allegedly had several alcoholic drinks on Flight 562 from Las Vegas to Denver on Friday morning. He allegedly refused one flight attendant’s request to stop using vulgar language and to quiet down, then told a second attendant she was beautiful.

Castle is accused of grabbing the second attendant’s buttocks as she passed by his row. He was arrested in Denver after the flight landed.

Castle told investigators he is married and didn’t make a pass at either flight attendant.