Devender Singh faces 2 years in prison, $250,000 fine.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Devender Singh, a 61 year-old man from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was taken into federal custody after allegedly assaulting a woman sexually during a flight.
Singh was on a United Airlines flight from Houston to Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday, seated next to a woman who had the row’s window seat. At some point during the flight, the woman – who has remained unidentified, called only as “Victim” in court documents – fell asleep, and it was during this time that Singh allegedly groped her and kissed her face numerous times. Reports indicate that he also had his hand inside her shirt, and may have been touching himself at the same time.
The woman woke up and found Singh touching her inappropriately, causing her to scream and push him off of her. She then proceeded to the back of the plane, telling the flight crew what had happened and demanding that local authorities be present at the airport when the plane landed. The crew complied, and Singh was promptly arrested when the plane touched down at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Because the incident took place mid-flight, it falls under federal jurisdiction, so Singh found himself arrested not by local Newark police, but by FBI agents. Singh appeared in federal US District Court on Monday, and now faces one charge of abusive sexual content, according to a statement by New Jersey state attorney Paul J. Fisherman. If he is found guilty, Singh faces two years in prison, in addition to a $250,000 fine.
A separate legal document –filed by FBI Special Agent Jason Carley, who was present upon Singh’s arrest – gives more detail about the case. United Flight 1145 left Houston at around 9:12 PM and landed in Newark at 1:32 AM the following morning. Singh was seated in seat 28B, while the woman was next to him in seat 28A.
“At some point during the Flight, the Victim fell asleep. Sometime thereafter, and while the aircraft was still in flight over the United States, the Victim awoke to find one of defendant Devender Singh’s hands inside her shirt touching her breast and his other hand stroking his exposed penis. Defendant Devender Singh was also kissing the Victim’s face and cheek. The Victim immediately pushed defendant Devender Singh off of her and told him to get away. Defendant Devender Singh zipped up his pants, got up from his seat, and walked toward the restroom.”
The document also states that, when arrested and questioned, Singh admitted to all the accusations against him, including “placing his hand inside the Victim’s shirt and touching her chest area.”
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com