NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A Cheektowaga, New York man was sentenced to prison on Friday for assaulting a woman on a plane two years ago, US Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday.
On a flight from Denver, CO to Newark, NJ, on April 16, 2021, Ryan Manuella moved to an empty seat next to a female passenger and touched her without consent, officials said.
Manuella, 30, was detained without a bond after previously pleading guilty to assault and intent to commit another felony – stalking – on an airplane, the Department of Justice said.
The victim yelled at Manuella and left the row of seats following the assault, and Manuella admitted his conduct caused the victim “substantial emotional distress.”
Manuella was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release, prosecutors said. The sentence was imposed in Newark federal court.