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In February, a pilot was convicted of inappropriately groping a 14-year-old that was travelling alone, according to Huffington Post.
After a three-day trial, Pilot Michael Pascal was found guilty of two counts of sexual abuse. He was charged in a U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, where he resides.
On a flight to Detroit to Salt Lake City, Pascal was a passenger that sat next to a 14-year-old girl. When the young girl woke up from a nap, Pascal’s hand was groping her buttocks.
The girl immediately elbowed Pascal and asked him what he was doing. The arm rest that she put between them earlier was pulled up when she awoke.
According to the documents, he became flustered when she called him out, saying that he was asleep. He also stated that put the arm rest up because he was crammed in the middle seat.
While Pascal went to the restroom, the young girl told a flight attendant and switched seats.
The jury quickly reached a verdict within a couple of hours. Pascal is scheduled to be sentenced the last week of July and can face up to five years in prison.
Pascal’s attorney stated that Pascal was shocked that he was charged for sexual assault. He has a daughter of his own.
The young girl Pascal assaulted is one of only 30 percent of sex crime victims that report their cases to authorities, according to the National Sex Offender Public Website.
Sexual assault can be any sort of inappropriate touching, groping, or fondling, or attempt to fondle without the other person’s consent. Verbal threats and insults, under the right circumstances, could also considered a sexual assault.
If you have been arrested or charged with a sexual crime, be sure to contact an experienced sex defense attorney. The attorneys at Greenberg, Greenberg & Kenyon, APLC will make sure to gather all of the required evidence to protect you and your freedom.
