90-Day Prison Sentence, Max, For Man Who Groped Girl On Newark Flight

An Indian national is headed to prison for no more than 90 days after admitting in federal court Thursday that he groped a teenage girl on a flight to Newark from Seattle.

United Airlines cabin
Photo Credit: *Wikipedia*

Jerry DeMarco

11/09/2017 6:42 p.m.

Vijaykumar Krishnappa, 29, pleaded guilty to assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States in exchange for a sentence of 30 to 90 days.

Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 17.

Krishnappa didn't know the girl, 16, who was seated next to him on the United Airlines flight from Seattle to Newark this past July 23, Acting U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick said.

He admitted that while the victim was asleep, he "intentionally touched her near her groin over her leggings without her consent," he said.

Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI and officers from the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey with the investigation leading to the plea deal, secured by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tazneen Shahabuddin of his Criminal Division in Newark.

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