Maine man charged with sexual assault of woman on Delta flight

ATLANTA - William Charles Pelletier has been indicted by a federal grand jury charged with abusive sexual contact for sexually assaulting a female passenger on a Delta flight to Atlanta, Georgia.

“This defendant allegedly believed he could sexually assault a fellow passenger on a flight to Atlanta,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “This conduct is unacceptable, and anyone who chooses to act in this manner will be prosecuted.  Citizens deserve to feel protected from sexual assault and should not have to fear this happening to them while traveling.”

“Behavior like what this defendant is accused of will not be tolerated by the FBI or any other law enforcement agency,” said David J. LeValley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “No citizen should have to confront this type of behavior any time or anywhere. And no person should ever think they can get away with such alleged actions.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the Indictment, and other information presented in court: on November 10, 2017, on a Delta flight from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Atlanta, several passengers reported that Pelletier was verbally abusive and unruly during the flight. As passengers were preparing for landing Pelletier threw a pretzel bag at the female passenger seated directly in front of him. The female passenger initially ignored Pelletier. But seconds later, she felt Pelletier reach around her seat and put his cupped hand on her breast. A passenger seated next to Pelletier witnessed the alleged assault and requested that the flight attendant contact the police. Pelletier was arrested when the flight arrived in Atlanta.

Arraignment for William Charles Pelletier, 35, of Andover, Maine, has not been determined.  Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains an allegation of criminal conduct. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charge and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Atlanta Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Phyllis Clerk is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.