Delta Passenger Indicted for In-Flight Sexual Assault
"Citizens deserve to feel protected from sexual assault and should not have to fear this happening to them while traveling,” said U.S. Attorney BJay Pak.
March 14, 2018 at 04:07 PM
2 minute read
A federal grand jury has indicted a Delta passenger accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a flight, U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak announced Wednesday.
Pak said evidence shows that, on Nov. 10, 2017, on a Delta flight from Charlottesville to Atlanta, several passengers reported that William Pelletier, 35, of Andover, Maine, was verbally abusive and unruly during the flight.
As passengers were preparing for landing, Pelletier allegedly threw a pretzel bag at the female passenger seated directly in front of him. She initially ignored him but seconds later felt Pelletier reach around her seat and put his cupped hand on her breast, according to a release. Pak said a passenger seated next to Pelletier witnessed the alleged assault and requested that the flight attendant contact the police. Pelletier was arrested when the flight arrived in Atlanta.
“This defendant allegedly believed he could sexually assault a fellow passenger on a flight to Atlanta,” Pak said in the release. “This conduct is unacceptable, and anyone who chooses to act in this manner will be prosecuted. Citizens deserve to feel protected from sexual assault and should not have to fear this happening to them while traveling.”
Arraignment for Pelletier has not been determined, according to the release. He has no defense counsel in the record yet, Pak said, and he could not be reached for comment.
“Behavior like what this defendant is accused of will not be tolerated by the FBI or any other law enforcement agency,” David LeValley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said in Pak's news release. “No citizen should have to confront this type of behavior any time or anywhere. And no person should ever think they can get away with such alleged actions.”
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