In-Flight Intruder: New Yorker Faces Prison Time for Seat-Swapping, Bag Rummaging, and Inappropriate Touching During a Flight

 

In New Jersey, a 30-year-old man from New York has been sentenced to two years in prison for inappropriately touching a woman on a flight from Denver to New Jersey, as per prosecutors. The incident occurred on United Airlines flight 1729 from Denver, Colorado, to Newark Liberty International Airport on April 16, 2021.

According to the criminal complaint, the man, Ryan Manuella, changed seats multiple times during the flight and eventually sat in the seat of a man who had left for the restroom. Allegedly, Manuella went through the man's bag and took out a pair of sunglasses. When the man returned and asked him to vacate the seat, Manuella moved to the middle seat, which was unoccupied, next to a woman in the window seat.

At this point, Manuella is accused of touching the woman inappropriately on her groin and inner thigh. The woman immediately reacted, loudly telling him to stay away, standing up, and seeking help from a flight attendant, as detailed in the complaint. The flight attendant observed the visibly distraught victim, who was crying and shaking.

For the rest of the flight, Manuella was relocated to another seat, and upon landing, he was taken into custody by the police. During an interview with FBI agents, he reportedly admitted to going through the man's bag and touching the woman without consent, claiming he did so for self-gratification.

Manuella faced charges of assault with intent to commit stalking while on an airplane and pleaded guilty last month. Following the prison term, he will be on probation for three years. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey.

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