Boston Herald

Flyer allegedly masturbate­d, touched seatmate

- By Rick Sobey

A 76-year-old Florida man is accused of masturbati­ng and exposing his genitals to a 21-year-old woman seated next to him while onboard a flight from Newark to Boston, according to the feds.

Donald Edward Robinson, of Bonita Springs, Fla., then placed his hand on top of the victim’s thigh without her consent, the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges.

Robinson was arrested Sunday at Boston Logan Internatio­nal Airport for allegedly performing a lewd act aboard an aircraft on Friday. He has been charged with one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdicti­on of the U.S.

Shortly after departure, the victim recorded a 24second video of Robinson allegedly fondling and manipulati­ng his genitals through his pants, the feds allege. A short time later, the victim looked over and saw that Robinson had exposed his genitals.

Then about five minutes before landing, Robinson allegedly placed his hand on the victim’s thigh. The victim asked Robinson why he was touching her, and then Robinson withdrew his hand and looked out the window.

The victim got the attention of another passenger and displayed a message on her phone, “Hi, this man assaulted me and touched my leg and is masturbati­ng.”

During the deplaning process, the victim approached a flight attendant about the incident, but was unable to point out Robinson because of the volume of passengers deplaning.

Security footage was able to capture Robinson repeatedly looking back in the direction from which he came while proceeding to the baggage carousel level.

Robinson will make an initial appearance in Boston federal court at a later date.

“The FAA investigat­es every unruly-passenger incident that airlines report to us,” an FAA spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

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