Latest news with #groping
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
Tulsa man convicted of repeatedly groping woman on Southwest flight to Dallas, prosecutors say
An Oklahoma man who repeatedly inappropriately touched a female passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight to Dallas in April 2023 has been convicted of abusive sexual contact, federal prosecutors said Friday. William R. McKelvy, 65, of Tulsa, faces up to three years in federal prison when he appears for sentencing Sept. 8 before Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey. Repeated groping during flight from Tulsa Screenshot of William R. McKelvy, 65, of Tulsa, from an officer's body-worn camera footage admitted as evidence. U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, McKelvy groped a woman's breast and inner thigh on four separate occasions during the flight from Tulsa to Dallas. While the woman initially believed the contact might have been accidental, she later pushed McKelvy away and warned him to stop. After a fourth incident, she yelled at him, drawing the attention of nearby passengers, prosecutors said. "Get your ******* hand off me, or I will break your ******* hand!" she testified. Passengers and crew intervene Prosecutors said fellow passengers intervened, telling McKelvy to stop and change seats, before a flight attendant moved him to the back of the plane. Police met the flight at Dallas Love Field. When questioned by officers, McKelvy admitted to vaping on the plane and downplayed the incident, saying he had "flirted with this chick." Defendant claims memory loss Testifying during the trial, McKelvy claimed he couldn't remember the incident because he had consumed alcohol and marijuana gummies. The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. Prosecutors praise victim and bystanders "No person should have to endure egregious attacks such as this aboard an aircraft, where appropriate behavior is crucial for the well-being of all passengers," Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson said in a news release. "We applaud the swift response of fellow passengers, crew members, and our law enforcement partners in this case to come to the victim's defense. "For her sake and the community's, we will continue to bring predators like this to justice and deter others from doing so." Investigation led by FBI and Dallas police The FBI and Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Japan's maid cafe staff join fight against groping: ‘we won't tolerate it'
Authorities in Japan are facing mounting pressure to curb groping in public places as complaints from victims, including maid cafe staff and high school students, continue to soar. On Sunday, Tokyo Metropolitan Police launched a campaign against chikan – a Japanese term referring to groping or sexual harassment – targeting assaults in crowded public spaces such as trains. Maid cafe staff and students were recently spotted in Tokyo distributing flyers denouncing groping outside the train station in Akihabara, the centre of Japanese anime, manga and gaming culture. 'We won't tolerate groping,' a group of maid cafe workers told news station TBS. The police have designated the first two weeks of June as a special enforcement period to combat molestation, introducing a safety app to enable victims to discreetly report harassment. Many victims typically hesitate to report such incidents due to fear and other barriers, authorities have said. 'If you experience groping or voyeurism, speak up with courage,' said Toyoda Noriaki, a police station chief in Tokyo. 'And if you can't speak, please use the DigiPolice app.' According to police statistics, 2,000 to 3,000 groping cases are reported in Japan each year. Last year, police recorded 725 groping cases across Tokyo, with over 70 per cent occurring in trains or at stations, according to public broadcaster NHK. About half of the victims were in their 20s, while teenagers numbered more than 200.
NHK
5 days ago
- General
- NHK
Tokyo police appeal to public to help stop train gropers
Tokyo police have appealed to the public for help to stop the problem of groping in trains and other places at an event near the capital's Shibuya Station. Police have set June 1 to 15 as a period for a campaign to tackle the problem ahead of the summer when molestation cases tend to increase. Last year, police uncovered 725 groping cases in Tokyo. More than 70 percent of these took place inside trains or stations. Police says many victims find it difficult to seek help because they are afraid, among other reasons. The event organizers explained how to use an anti-groping smartphone app developed by the Tokyo police. The Digi Police app can display a message asking other people for help and blast a voice telling the molester to stop. Flyers were also distributed to commuters and passersby. They call on people to offer help if they spot any potential victims. Actress Imoto Ayaka is encouraging people to download the app. She says the app is easy to use even when it's difficult for victims to raise their voices.
