(Lincoln, NE) -- An Indiana man is sentenced in Nebraska to federal prison for sexually assaulting a woman on a commercial airplane.
On Thursday, the United States Attorney's office announced that 39 year old Ian Wagner, 39, formerly of New Haven, Indiana, was sentenced in Lincoln for abusive sexual contact of an incapacitated person. Wagner was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison and 6 years of supervised release with special conditions. Wagner was additionally ordered to pay $500 in restitution to the victim.
Federal prosecutors say in October of 2017, Wagner was on board a flight from Indianapolis to Denver and was seated next to an 18-year-old woman. During the flight, prosecutors say the woman fell asleep and later awoke to Wagner rubbing her inner thigh with his hand. At some point a while later, the victim took a photograph of Wagner with the geolocation data associated with the photograph indicating that the plane was flying over Hastings, Nebraska.
Prosecutors say the victim then left her seat and sought refuge in the airplane’s lavatory, but eventually returned because she believed the flight was full and no other seats would be available. After retaking her seat, she observed that Wagner had placed a jacket over his lap and his hand appeared to be moving up and down under the jacket. Wagner made eye contact with the victim and lifted his jacket to reveal his exposed penis. For over five minutes, Wagner masturbated while staring at the victim. Frightened and troubled by the incident, the victim lodged a complaint with the airline two days later and with criminal authorities in the following weeks.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.