Doug Stanglin

USA TODAY

A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge after admitting he grabbed a Muslim woman’s hijab during a Southwest Airlines flight in December and yanked it off, shouting, "Take it off — this is America!"

Federal authorities say Gill Parker Payne, 37, of Gastonia, N.C., entered the plea Friday. He was charged with using force or threat of force to obstruct a Muslim woman in the free exercise of her religious beliefs.

Under the plea agreement, finalized in Albuquerque, the government recommended two months home probation for Payne, although a judge could still sentence him to as much as one year in prison.

The incident occurred on Dec. 11 on a flight from Chicago to Albuquerque.

According to court documents, Payne admitted that he got up from his seat several rows behind the Muslim woman, who was identified only as K.A., and approached her. He told her to take off her hijab — an Islamic-style headscarf — saying, “Take it off — this is America!”

"I then grabbed the back of the hijab and pulled it all the way off, leaving K.A.'s entire head exposed," Payne admitted, according to the court documents.

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez of the District of New Mexico said the prosecution "sends a clear message to anyone who contemplates the use of threats or intimidation to interfere with the right of individuals, including members of our Muslim community, to express their faith without fear.” He said his office is "committed to protecting the religious rights of Muslims in New Mexico by aggressively prosecuting those who wish to perpetrate hate crimes against them.”

“All Americans, regardless of their differences, deserve to be treated with respect,” said Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.