97 Months in Prison for Airplane Predator
A Hawaii man has been sentenced to 97 months in prison for molesting a minor on a flight from Hawaii to California in 2003. Curtis Keith Cooper, 74, committed the heinous crime while seated next to an under-12-year-old girl.
According to court documents, on July 12, 2003, Cooper committed aggravated sexual abuse by touching the minor inappropriately without her consent while she slept with a blanket over her.
Cooper pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Apr. 19, 2010, to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under the age of twelve years within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. He was indicted on those charges on Nov. 19, 2009.
Cooper was also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay $3,098 in restitution. This case is a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk in the shadows of public places.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Anitha Ibrahim of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Butrick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Alan C. Kay handed down the sentence. Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer and U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Florence T. Nakakuni announced the sentencing.
The guilty verdict and sentence are a testament to the courage of the victim and the dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors to bring perpetrators of child abuse to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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