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Man faces prison in 'brazen' sex assault on Detroit-bound plane

Posted at 10:15 AM, Dec 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-13 10:15:57-05

DETROIT (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Detroit are seeking nearly 11 years in prison for an Indian man convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping woman during a commercial flight.

Prabhu Ramamoorthy is expected in federal court Thursday in Detroit. He was jailed after being accused of molesting a woman with his hands while she slept on an overnight flight from Las Vegas to Detroit in January.

Ramamoorthy was in a middle seat sitting next to the victim, and his wife was sitting next to the aisle. Prosecutors called it a "brazen" assault.

Officials say the assault woke the woman up. She found her pants unzipped and immediately asked flight attendants for help.

Defense attorneys are seeking a prison term of less than 10 years, arguing Ramamoorthy's "life as he knew it is over."

Ramamoorthy had been in the U.S. on a work visa. He'll eventually be deported to India because of the conviction.