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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a man from India improperly touched a sleeping woman aboard a flight from Los Angeles to New Jersey.
Veerabhadrarao Kunam is charged with abusive sexual contact. The 58-year-old resident of Visakhapatnam, India, was arrested Saturday after the flight arrived in Newark.
Prosecutors say Kunam was seated next to a woman he didn't know on the Virgin America flight. Prosecutors say the woman awoke to find Kunam touching her genitals and rubbing his bare feet against hers.
The woman alerted her male travel companion, who confronted Kunam. Investigators say Kunam offered to buy the man a drink. He declined and reported the incident to a flight crew member.
Kunam made his initial court appearance Monday and was freed on bond. His lawyer, Alexander Spiro, declined to comment on the accusations.
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