Man convicted of sexually assaulting woman on Myrtle Beach flight sentenced to 2 years

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A man who was convicted by a jury last year of abusive sexual contact aboard an airplane, was sentenced to two years in prison on Thursday.

A federal jury in North Carolina had convicted 29-year-old Siva K. Durbesula last November after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman he was seated next to on a plane.

Durbesula, of India, was convicted of abusive sexual contact aboard an airplane.

According to court documents, witness testimony, and evidence, Durbesula was a passenger aboard a Spirit Airlines flight from Chicago O’Hare to Myrtle Beach on June 23, 2019, when he sexually assaulted the 22-year-old woman seated next to him.

The victim testified at trial that Durbesula pulled her toward him and groped her repeatedly midflight. After the flight crew separated Durbesula from his victim, he asked to return to his former seat so he could speak to her again.

During trial, prosecutors also presented the testimony of a second victim, who testified that on March 21, 2019 -- approximately three months prior to the assault on the airplane -- Durbesula pinned her into the corner on a New York City subway train and groped her. That victim was able to video record Durbesula exiting the train, which helped police identify Durbesula and charge him. Those charges were still pending when Durbesula sexually assaulted the victim on the airplane.

Durbesula was originally indicted in South Carolina, but the case was transferred to the Western District of North Carolina for trial after Durbesula agreed that the plane traveled over North Carolina and the venue was appropriate in that state.

Durbesula must also serve 10 years of supervised release and must pay a $5,000 assessment.

Durbesula is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

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