BOSTON, MA — A Newton man was found guilty in federal court of molesting a teenage girl sitting in front of him on a flight to Boston from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
"Jonathan Alan Lefman, 48, "worked his hand in between the area between the back and bottom of the seat directly in front of him, where the minor victim was seated, and touched the minor victim's buttocks without her permission" in August 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a media release.
Lefman was traveling with his wife and four children when he molested the 17-year-old JetBlue passenger, the release said.
On multiple occasions during the flight and while on the ground waiting to deplane in Boston, Lefman engaged in abusive sexual contact with the minor victim," according to the release.
"On at least one occasion when he did so, the minor victim saw Lefman's reflection leaning between the seats in the seatback monitor in front of her," the release said. "On the last occasion when he touched or attempted to touch her buttocks, the minor victim was able to use her cell phone camera to take a video of Lefman's fingers protruding between the back and bottom of the minor victim's seat. Upon exiting the aircraft, while still on the jet bridge, the minor victim took a video of Lefman as he got off the aircraft."
Upon exiting the aircraft, an adult relative of the teen who had been seated in a different row "reported Lefman's conduct to a JetBlue supervisor and confronted Lefman, showing the video of his fingers to support her statement," according to the release.
A jury found Lefman guilty following a three-day trial of abusive sexual contact while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, according to the release.
"This verdict delivers justice for a young teen who showed remarkable courage following an appalling act," Ted E. Docks, the special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Division, said in the release.
"No one should ever be subjected to such harmful and predatory conduct — least of all in a confined, public space where she was entitled to feel safe," Docks said. "The FBI is fully committed to protecting children and ensuring those who exploit or abuse them, like Mr. Lefman, are brought to justice."
Lefman faces up to two years in prison, five years to a lifetime of parole and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the release.
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