Yoel Oberlander, Assault with Intent to Commit Stalking, New Jersey 2016

Man Gets 13 Months in Prison for Assault on Plane

Yoel Oberlander, 36, of Monsey, New York, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for assaulting a woman on a flight from Israel to Newark Liberty International Airport. Oberlander previously pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with assault with intent to commit stalking in U.S. District Court in Newark, New Jersey.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Oberlander admitted to knowingly and intentionally assaulting the woman seated next to him on the El Al flight from Tel Aviv to Newark on May 29, 2016. He touched her in the area of her chest, upper thigh, and hand without her consent, with the intent to harass and intimidate her.

Oberlander’s sentence also includes three years of supervised release. The investigation into the incident was led by the FBI, with assistance from the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey.

U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick praised the efforts of the FBI and Port Authority in the investigation, saying, ‘We are committed to keeping the public safe, especially in situations where individuals may feel vulnerable, such as on public transportation.’

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa M. Wangenheim and Joyce M. Malliet represented the government in the case, while defense counsel Eric Kanefsky Esq. represented Oberlander.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court. Oberlander’s conviction serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting personal boundaries and the consequences of actions that infringe upon them.

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