A U.S. Navy sailor accused of groping a 13-year-old girl was found guilty Tuesday of sexually abusing her while on an airline flight in January.
Shawn Michael Cole, 40, sexually abused a young girl while on a flight from Hawaii to Phoenix. Cole shared a movie on his laptop with the girl and paid for snacks, before the girl attempted to fall asleep, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Arizona said in a release.
While she attempted to sleep Cole leaned over and began to whisper to her, then believing her to be asleep Cole began touching the girl sexually, according to authorities.
The girl was too frightened to resist and pretended to be asleep. According to reports a flight attended spotted Cole caressing the girl and separated them when she said she was not traveling with Cole.
Cole was arrested immediately after the flight and was sentenced to seven years in federal prison on Tuesday. According to court authorities Cole will be on lifetime supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
This loser brings shame to uniform and his family. Let’s hope the military issues justice.