Babak Rezapour, Sexual Assault, Washington 2018

Sex Assault on an Aircraft Lands Van Nuys Man in Prison

A 42-year-old Van Nuys, California, man was convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman on a flight from London to Seattle. Babak Rezapour, 42, was found guilty of abusive sexual contact in a special aircraft jurisdiction and abusive sexual contact with an incapacitated victim.

The jury deliberated for about two and a half hours following a five-day trial. Rezapour was remanded to custody and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik on April 24, 2020.

The assault occurred on January 10, 2018, on a Norwegian Air flight from London to Seattle. The victim, 22, had taken prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medication and drank a glass of wine. She then accepted a second glass of wine purchased for her by Rezapour. After drinking the second glass, the victim became unusually sleepy. She awoke to find Rezapour sexually assaulting her.

According to the records and testimony at trial, witnesses described seeing Rezapour move into the seat next to the victim, contradicting his statements to law enforcement. In multiple statements to different investigators, Rezapour changed his description of what had occurred on the plane. In addition to consistent statements from the victim and witnesses, prosecutors used DNA evidence to prove Rezapour's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

An FBI DNA expert described how she discovered Rezapour's DNA inside the victim's underwear. Abusive Sexual Contact on an Aircraft is punishable by up to two years in prison, and Abusive Sexual Contact with an Incapacitated Victim is punishable by up to three years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Port of Seattle Police and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marie Dalton and Grady Leupold.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/van-nuys-california-man-convicted-sexual-assault-aircraft