ALBUQUERQUE (970 WFLA) -- A 49 year old Tampa man is jailed in New Mexico, after federal authorities charged him with sexual assault on an airliner.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico says a woman alleges Bruce Alexander groped her on a Southwest Airlines flight from Houston to Albuquerque Sunday (21). She was seated on the row in front of him and asked flight attendants to move her.
According to the federal complaint, the alleged victim, identified as "C.W.", told investigators she felt a hand from behind grab her right breast, awakening her. She assumed it was an accident but felt another groping attempt on her right side about half an hour later. She told the FBI the hand had thick fingers with dirty fingernails. The arresting agent said Alexander's hands matched that description.
According to the agent, when Alexander was being hauled away in a vehicle after his arrest, he stated that "the President of the United States says it's OK to grab women by their private parts."
FBI agents arrested Alexander at the Albuquerque airport. He remains in custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing.
If convicted, Alexander could face up to two years in prison and a $250 thousand dollar fine.
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