NEWARK—A Louisiana man appeared in Newark federal court today to face a charge that he sexually touched a sleeping woman who did not know him aboard a flight from Houston to Newark Liberty International Airport, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Devender Singh, 61, an Indian national who lives in Baton Rouge, was arrested on March 2, 2014—the day his plane arrived in Newark—and was taken into federal custody by the FBI. He appeared this afternoon to face a complaint charging him with one count of abusive sexual contact before U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court and was detained with the option to request a bail hearing.
According to the complaint filed today:
Singh was seated next to a woman who occupied a window seat on a United Airlines flight from Houston to Newark. While the plane was in the air, the woman fell asleep. She awoke to find Singh kissing her face with his hand inside her shirt. Singh was also touching his exposed penis.
After pushing Singh off her and telling him to get away, the woman went to the back of the plane and told a flight crew member what had happened, asking that the police be present when the plane landed.
The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over all sexual abuse cases that occur on aircraft in flight in the United States.
If convicted of the abusive sexual contact charge, Singh faces a maximum potential penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gain or loss from the offense.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, and the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko, with the investigation leading to the charge.
The government is represented by J. Jamari Buxton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Showing posts with label domestic flight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label domestic flight. Show all posts
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Hudson County Man Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing Sleeping Woman on Domestic Flight
NEWARK—Hudson County, N.J., man was sentenced today to 97 months in prison for sexually abusing a sleeping woman aboard a flight from Phoenix to Newark Liberty International Airport in August 2012, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Bawer Aksal, 49, of North Bergen, New Jersey, was previously convicted of one count of sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares. Judge Linares imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial:
Aksal was a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Phoenix to Newark on August 20, 2012, sitting in the middle seat in a row of three. Neither Aksal, the victim seated by the window, nor the passenger in the aisle seat knew one other. Before the plane took off, the victim texted a friend complaining about Aksal’s arm encroaching into her seating area.
About one hour before landing, the aisle passenger looked to his right and saw Aksal with his body against the victim’s, his arms around her back and beneath a sweater draped over her. The victim awoke to find Aksal’s hands inside her shirt and shorts and struggled out of his grasp. The aisle passenger observed her jolting awake, and he and the victim both gathered their belongings and headed to the back of the plane to report what happened to the flight attendants.
Aksal was detained upon arrival in Newark and arrested by FBI agents.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Aksal to serve three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution to the victim for her medical expenses. Aksal is required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, and the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Alfonzo Walsman and Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over all sexual abuse cases that occur in American airplanes, as such events are outside the jurisdiction of any state.
Bawer Aksal, 49, of North Bergen, New Jersey, was previously convicted of one count of sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares. Judge Linares imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial:
Aksal was a passenger on a United Airlines flight from Phoenix to Newark on August 20, 2012, sitting in the middle seat in a row of three. Neither Aksal, the victim seated by the window, nor the passenger in the aisle seat knew one other. Before the plane took off, the victim texted a friend complaining about Aksal’s arm encroaching into her seating area.
About one hour before landing, the aisle passenger looked to his right and saw Aksal with his body against the victim’s, his arms around her back and beneath a sweater draped over her. The victim awoke to find Aksal’s hands inside her shirt and shorts and struggled out of his grasp. The aisle passenger observed her jolting awake, and he and the victim both gathered their belongings and headed to the back of the plane to report what happened to the flight attendants.
Aksal was detained upon arrival in Newark and arrested by FBI agents.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Aksal to serve three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution to the victim for her medical expenses. Aksal is required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, and the Port Authority Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Michael A. Fedorko, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Alfonzo Walsman and Robert Frazer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over all sexual abuse cases that occur in American airplanes, as such events are outside the jurisdiction of any state.
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