SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The skies weren’t so friendly for one passenger on a late-night flight from Chicago. A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict today to Robert Sutherland MacLean, 59, of Frisco, Texas, for a brazen act of sexual assault committed 30,000 feet in the air. MacLean repeatedly grabbed and groped a female passenger without her consent, turning a routine flight into a terrifying ordeal.
The indictment, filed April 18, 2023, charged MacLean with abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft of the United States. Evidence presented at trial painted a disturbing picture of calculated aggression. Prosecutors detailed how MacLean not only physically assaulted the victim but also peppered the attack with sexually laced statements, escalating the horror for the woman seated next to him in first class.
“Mr. MacLean unlawfully and illegally imposed his will upon another person— sexually assaulting her over and over again on that late night flight,” stated prosecuting attorney Bryan N. Reeves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office during closing arguments. Reeves’ blunt language underscored the severity of the crime and the relentless nature of MacLean’s actions. The victim’s testimony, though not detailed in the release, clearly resonated with the jury.
The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office spearheaded the investigation, receiving assistance from the Salt Lake City Police Department. Investigators pieced together evidence from the flight, including witness statements and potentially surveillance footage, to build a solid case against MacLean. This wasn’t a random act; the prosecution implied a level of premeditation in MacLean’s targeting of the victim.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah announced the verdict, signaling a commitment to prosecuting in-flight crimes with the same vigor as those committed on the ground. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael P. Kennedy and Bryan N. Reeves are handling the prosecution. MacLean now awaits sentencing, scheduled for October 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Kimball at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as MacLean’s sentencing approaches. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that the confines of an airplane cabin do not offer immunity from the law, and perpetrators of sexual assault will be held accountable, no matter where they attempt to commit their crimes.
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