Amtrak passenger shows porn instead of ticket, faces criminal charges

What started as a routine fare inspection turned into a shocking confrontation. Now, a 42-year-old faces court for showing banned content—and threatening train staff.

, and Administrator

2026 January 13 . 7:18 AM

1 min read

The image shows a train station with a train on the tracks, illuminated by lights on the left side... — The image shows a train station with a train on the tracks, illuminated by lights on the left side and graffiti on the walls on the right side. At the top of the image, there is a ceiling with wires running along it.

Passenger Shows Porn to Conductor Instead of Ticket - Amtrak passenger shows porn instead of ticket, faces criminal charges

A routine ticket check on a regional train took a disturbing turn when a passenger displayed pornographic videos instead of his fare. The incident happened between Laufenburg and Waldshut-Tiengen, as an Amtrak conductor carried out a standard inspection. Instead of showing his ticket, the 42-year-old passenger from Bremen pulled out his smartphone and played obscene videos. Federal police officers were called in to handle the situation. Upon their arrival, the man reportedly became aggressive, directing insults and threats at the Amtrak conductor before being detained. Investigations revealed that some of the material shown violated Section 184 of the German Criminal Code, which covers violent and child pornography. By December 2024, prosecutors had launched formal proceedings against the man, charging him with the dissemination of illegal content and sexual harassment. The case now rests with the courts, where the man will face multiple serious allegations. If convicted, he could receive penalties under German law for the distribution of prohibited material and for his behavior towards the Amtrak staff.