Man gives 14-year-old rum on American Airlines flight, sexually abuses her, feds say

A 33-year-old man is facing prison time after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a girl on an American Airlines flight, federal officials said.

In January 2023, Ryan Coffey sexually abused a 14-year-old stranger sitting next to him “in the dark” on their flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to San Diego, California, according to an Aug. 12 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

He gave the teen rum, then “touched her inner thigh and breasts,” officials said.

Coffey was indicted in March and pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact of a minor on an aircraft on Aug. 12, officials said.

McClatchy News reached out to the airline and Coffey’s lawyers on Aug. 13 and was awaiting a response.

He is facing a maximum sentence of two years in prison, officials said.

This story was originally published August 13, 2024 at 3:12 PM with the headline "Man gives 14-year-old rum on American Airlines flight, sexually abuses her, feds say."