Vijaykumar Krishnappa, a 29-years-old physician of Indian origin, appeared before a federal magistrate in Newark last week. New York Daily News reported that he admitted groping a 16-year-old girl on a flight from Seattle to New Jersey.
The incident occurred in July when Krishnappa was flying on a New Jersey-bound United Airlines flight. A 16-year-old girl was sitting next to him. She was asleep and felt a stranger’s hand on her thigh.
The girl told CBS News earlier this year that she felt terrorized even after Krishnappa was moved to a different seat.
"I just felt like he could see me. Like he could see wherever I was sitting. There was just still so much time, like, I couldn't just leave the plane. I didn't have anyone. I didn't feel like there was anyone on the plane that could protect me."
Krishnappa, an Indian national, "put his hand on her groin and inner thigh, and began rubbing the victim through her clothing," according to the complaint.
Krishnappa admitted that while the victim was asleep, he intentionally touched her near her groin over her leggings without her consent, Acting US Attorney William E Fitzpatrick said in a statement.
Under terms of a plea agreement, the accused will be sentenced to between 30 and 90 days in prison in January.
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