Woman mouths 'help' to airline passenger as man sexually assaults her, officials say

A man was arrested after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a flight from Virginia to Michigan, federal officials say.

On July 1, a woman was sitting next to 21-year-old Randal Wetzel on a flight from Dulles to Detroit, according to a criminal complaint.

Contact information for Wetzel’s attorney was not listed in court records.

Before the flight took off, Wetzel began making conversation with the woman. Then, soon after takeoff, Wetzel put his hand on the woman’s thigh, according to court records.

The woman began watching a movie to try and end the conversation with Wetzel, but he asked if he could watch it with her, officials said.

“While watching the movie, Wetzel laid his head on her shoulder and chest and began rubbing her leg,” according to court records.

Wetzel is also accused of touching the woman on her back and butt.

The woman “was afraid and remained frozen in her seat,” the complaint said.

Wetzel went on to ask the woman if he could kiss her, but she made excuses to convince him that it would be a bad idea, officials said. However, court records said Wetzel kissed the woman for several seconds before the woman pushed him away.

He asked for another kiss, to which she did not respond and he kissed her again, court records said.

Wetzel then touched the woman’s genitals through her clothing before the woman told him to stop, according to court records. However, he continued touching her, and also tried to reach into her shorts.

At one point during the flight, the woman mouthed the word “help” to another passenger sitting in the row behind her, documents read.

The passenger called the flight crew who moved Wetzel, court records said.

After the plane landed, airport police spoke with Wetzel, the woman and the passenger. Wetzel told them he was not surprised to see police after the flight, according to the complaint.

Police said Wetzel admitted to kissing the woman, but he said that she gave him permission. However, he then said she gave him excuses as to why he couldn’t kiss her, but he did so anyway because he “could tell she wanted it,” according to court records.

He also ultimately admitted to touching the woman’s genitals, officials said.

His bond was set at $10,000, documents show.

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