A woman who fell asleep during a United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Virginia woke up to a man fondling her breast.
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The incident took place on Dec. 24 when 26-year-old Ivan Lopez Jr. rubbed a female passenger’s breast while she was sleeping during the flight. Prosecutors said the victim told Lopez Jr. to “get away from me” and he ran to the back of the plane to tell a flight attendant that he “sexually assaulted the woman sitting next to him.” He was immediately moved from his seat and Lopez Jr. reportedly told the flight attendant that he had “a disability” then apologized again.
According to Yahoo! News, the woman said Lopez Jr. rubbed her breasts for approximately 10 seconds. “The indictment alleges that she awoke to Lopez repeatedly rubbing her right breast. When the passenger opened her eyes, she allegedly observed Lopez leaning over her and his right hand was placed on her right breast,” the arrest affidavit reads.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a statement if Lopez Jr. is found guilty, he will face up to two years in prison. During an interview with an FBI agent, Lopez Jr. claimed he was trying to take the woman on her shoulder and turbulence caused him to rub her breasts. Officials said they believe he has committed simple assault and he currently faces a charge of “abusive sexual contact.”