Baltimore man charged with sexually abusing incapacitated airplane passenger

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland released a statement on Friday confirming that a Baltimore man has been indicted charging Deo Mugabe, 26, with fourth-degree sexual abuse on an aircraft, abusive sexual contact, and simple assault.  The three-count indictment was returned on July 3, 2018, and unsealed on July 25, 2018, upon Mugabe’s arrest.  According to Fox News in Baltimore, Mugabe was sitting next to his victim, a stranger, on a May 29 flight from Houston, Texas, to Baltimore.

The indictment alleges that Mugabe engaged in sexual contact with his victim during the flight, knowing that she was incapable of declining participation or communicating unwillingness to engage in that sexual contact.  The Baltimore Sun confirmed that the U.S. Attorney’s office did not elaborate as to why the victim was deemed incapacitated and “incapable of declining participation or communicating unwillingness to engage in that sexual contact.”

If convicted, Mugabe faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for fourth-degree sexual abuse on an aircraft, a maximum of three years in prison for abusive sexual contact, and a maximum of one year in prison for simple assault.  An initial appearance was held in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on July 25, 2018.

Mugabe was released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office / District of Maryland

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~ Written by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter