Piyush Mathew, Abusive Sexual Contact, Montana 2023

Missoula Man Sentenced for Airplane Assault

MISSOULA — In a shocking case of in-flight assault, a New Jersey man has been sentenced to five years of probation for sexually assaulting a woman seated next to him on a flight from New Jersey to Bozeman.

Piyush Mathew, 31, of Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in March to abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States as charged in an indictment.

The crime occurred on September 7, 2023, on United Airlines Flight 1300. Mathew and the victim, identified as Jane Doe, were seated next to each other, with Mathew in the aisle seat and Doe in the middle seat. According to court documents, Mathew raised the armrest between them and, once the plane was in the air, he assaulted Doe for the duration of the flight.

Mathew’s behavior was brazen and premeditated, with the defendant pretending to be asleep while touching Doe multiple times on different parts of her body, including her thighs, fingers, arms, stomach, and breasts. Doe had hoped to alert the flight crew of Mathew’s behavior, but the defendant stood immediately behind her for deboarding, leaving her feeling trapped and unable to speak out.

Fortunately, Doe was able to find a way to report the incident to law enforcement, and Mathew was subsequently charged with abusive sexual contact. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, with the FBI, Gallatin Airport Authority, and Bozeman Airport Police conducting the investigation.

As a result of the guilty plea, Mathew was sentenced to five years of probation, with six months of home confinement, ordered to register as a sex offender, and required to pay a total of $5,100 in special assessments.

Mathew’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of airline safety and the need for passengers to be aware of their surroundings. It also highlights the importance of reporting suspicious behavior to law enforcement and the effectiveness of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in prosecuting cases of abusive sexual contact.

The defendant’s name, Piyush Mathew, his age, 31, his city, Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, the exact criminal charges, abusive sexual contact, the city and state, Missoula, Montana, the exact date of the crime, September 7, 2023, and the sentence or outcome, five years of probation with six months of home confinement, are all part of this disturbing case.