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Airplane Sex Assault Lands Man 2 Years in Prison
A North Carolina federal court has sentenced Siva K. Durbesula, 29, of India, to two years in prison for abusive sexual conduct aboard an airplane.
According to court documents, witness testimony, and evidence presented at trial, Durbesula sexually assaulted a 22-year-old female passenger on June 23, 2019, while they were both on a flight from Chicago O’Hare to Myrtle Beach, S.C. The victim testified that Durbesula pulled her toward him and groped her repeatedly midflight.
Prosecutors also presented testimony from a second victim, who claimed that Durbesula pinned her into the corner on a New York City subway train and groped her on March 21, 2019. The second victim was able to video record Durbesula’s exiting the train, which assisted the New York Police Department in identifying him.
U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger handed Durbesula the statutory maximum prison term for the offense, noting that the defendant’s repeated sexual misconduct over a short period of time required the maximum statutory punishment.
In addition to the prison term, Durbesula will serve 10 years of supervised release and pay a $5,000 assessment. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer and M. Rhett DeHeart commended the FBI, the Horry County Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Don Gast and Derek A. Shoemake prosecuted the case.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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