A 39-year-old California man is in federal custody for allegedly groping a teenager on a Delta flight from Atlanta.
Aboubacar Soumah is accused of moving to a seat closer to a 14-year-old girl on Flight 1743 headed to Salt Lake City on Tuesday, according to records filed in the U.S. District Court of Utah. Then, he apparently touched her repeatedly, including several times in private areas of her body.
The man also asked her several questions, such as whether she was flying alone and if she would touch his lap, the girl told FBI Special Agent Daniel Dunn. During the flight, the teen reported the man's behavior to flight attendants, who alerted airport police, according to Dunn's affidavit. Police met the flight upon its arrival in Utah and questioned the man, according to court records.
Soumah had intended to take a connecting flight to Oakland, Calif. Instead, he was charged Wednesday in federal court.
The girl, who is identified only as Jane Doe in court documents, said she removed Soumah's hand every time he touched her and asked him to stop. Two flight attendants said Soumah asked the girl for sexual favors, according to Dunn.
According to Soumah, the girl kicked him and asked him to scratch her back and touch her buttocks.
About the Author
