FBI: Man fondled sleeping woman on flight from Las Vegas
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a June 6 photo, a Southwest Airlines jet is seen as it prepares to land.
PITTSBURGH >> A western Pennsylvania man has been charged with fondling a sleeping woman who sat next to him on a flight from Las Vegas.
Wei-Ming Shi, 58, of Mount Lebanon, ran from the federal courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh to avoid questions following his initial appearance before a magistrate. His public defender declined comment.
Shi is charged with one count of unlawful sexual contact on an aircraft during flight and a second, related count of knowingly engaging in sexual contact without another person’s permission.
Shi was returning from Las Vegas on a Southwest Airlines flight on Thursday when he put his hands under the sleeping woman’s dress and on her thigh and buttocks, the FBI said in a four-page criminal complaint. The woman woke up during the alleged incident and alerted a flight attendant who had police meet the plane at Pittsburgh International Airport and take Shi into custody.
Shi “committed a sexual assault against a sleeping person in the next seat,” U.S. Attorney David Hickton said after the brief court appearance. “It appears that he did not know her.”
Prosecutors released little information about Shi, an accountant, who was questioned by a member of the judge’s staff about property he owns in Las Vegas. The nature and extent of that property could not immediately be determined Friday.
Hickton said Shi cooperated with the FBI and the criminal complaint said he acknowledged putting his hand under the woman’s dress.
Shi was allowed to remain free on bond until a preliminary hearing Aug. 28. Prosecutors must present probable cause for the charges at the hearing which will then grant them another 30 days to bring a formal indictment with the charges.
The sexual contact during flight charge carries up to three years in prison; the non-consensual contact charge carries up to two years. Each charge also carries up to a $250,000 fine.
Hickton said such charges are “very uncommon” and that his staff had never previously filed them in his six years in office.
25 responses to “FBI: Man fondled sleeping woman on flight from Las Vegas”
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What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens on the flight back stays on your permanent criminal record.
yes. scary flight
You funnier than Bob Hope.
Great, funnier than an old dead guy!
Supposed to rub da Buddha’s stomach at the Cal when he arrived. Not touch da lady’s behind when he left. Maybe didn’t have luck in Vegas, that’s why.
Judging by the wear on the Buddha’s nipples at the Cal, I’d say more people are rubbing them than his belly (LOL!).
Not everyone can get lucky in Vegas, but everyone can get luck in Pahrump!
Wei Ming Shi better change his name to Hee Ing Deep Kim Chee.
Unfortunately, in addition to worrying about potential Terrorists endangerment, must the passengers deal with perverts too? Auwe!
immigrant gone bad
What’s Bill Clinton doing flying in coach?
I make sure that my young son asks to have his seat changed if he is seated next to a Catholic priest or bishop when he has to travel alone to school on the mainland.
Wtf does this have to do with this story. Smh.
Now days you never know what’s on the minds of people sitting next to you. Everyone stuck in a metal tube with no where to go. Guess some go insane.
I have nightmares of a girl doing the same thing to me.
sounds like an invitation to the mile high club to cholo
Wei-Ming Shi aka “Mi So Ho-Ni”
The woman just needed to ask to be seated elsewhere. To create this kind of drama is ridiculous. Be flattered that someone found you attractive.
Blaming the victim is probably not a good idea. Wonder if you would feel that way if it was your wife.
What? Are you kidding?
He probably tried it…she changed seats.
You must be a sexual predator in training. Maybe you are a practicing sexual predator, who knows. Either way and absolutely absurd comment. You try that with my wife or daughter and you won’t get off the plane with a heart beat.
Have you registered your name with the proper agency in your community? It’s mandatory, in case they forgot to inform you.
Shortly after 9/11, I was on a flight from HNL to LAS. I witnessed a middle aged man inappropriately touching an elementary school aged girl who was traveling with her mother. The man was not a part of their traveling party. The girl was sleeping and remained asleep after the first incident. I alerted a flight attendant as well as let the guy know I was watching him and if he did it again, he would be in a lot of trouble. Dude couldn’t contain himself and again touched the young girl. The girl and her mother awoke to the sounds of the man screaming and gurgling as I choked him into submission. We were a half hour out of LAS. It was kind of scary being escorted by fighter jets and talking to all of the various alphabet soup law enforcement officers on the ground. When it came time for trial, the man plead guilty as the evidence against him was overwhelming. He attempted to file a civil lawsuit against me, claiming that I messed up his back. The lawsuit never made it past the initial depositions. Our world is changing. Lots more perverts and sickos in the world. 🙁
If true, well done. Our country needs more up and up civilians like you.