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Maine man charged with sexually assaulting woman on Delta flight

Fellow passengers reported "verbally abusive" and "unruly" behavior before the alleged incident happened, according to the indictment.
Credit: George Frey/Getty Images
A Delta flight lands at the Salt Lake City International Airport August 19, 2004 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Delta is trying to restructure debt to avoid going into bankruptcy and there have been reports that Delta is considering closing a hub

ATLANTA (NEWS CENTER Maine) — A man from Andover, Maine, has been charged with the sexual assault of a woman on a flight from Virginia to Georgia.

According to the indictment handed down by a federal grand jury, 35-year-old William Pelletier was on a Delta Air Lines flight last November from Charlottesville, Virginia (CHO) to Atlanta (ATL) when fellow passengers reported "verbally abusive" and "unruly" behavior.

Shortly before the flight landed, Pelletier allegedly threw a pretzel bag at a woman sitting in front of him. Court documents state that she initially ignored him, but seconds later, Pelletier reached around her seat and put his cupped hand on her breast, US Attorney Byung Pak said.

The federal prosecutor said a separate passenger on the plane who claimed to have witnessed the incident requested the onboard flight attendant to notify police.

Pelletier was arrested upon arrival at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

His arraignment had not yet been scheduled.

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