Man pleads guilty to groping woman onboard airplane

(Original Post 4-22-08)

Federal authorities indicted Michael Lamar Holland, 46, on abusive sexual contact charges for an incident where he allegedly groped a 39 year old woman. Holland originally struck up a conversation wiht the 39 year old alleged victim, but started to stroke her hair, then other places. The woman got away from Holland, and was taken to another seat.

Groping led to United Airlines flight's diversion to Pittsburgh
"The next thing you know, he's groping her," said Hresko. "The flight attendants asked our (air marshals) to get involved."Holland was handcuffed by air marshals and taken to an empty seat in another part of the plane, Hresko said. The pilot opted to divert the flight to Pittsburgh so Holland could be removed, said Hresko. United Airlines officials did not immediately return a call for comment.

The flight left Dulles carrying 182 passengers at 6:08 p.m. and landed in Pittsburgh about an hour later. Pittsburgh airport officials said the flight continued on to Seattle at 9:35 p.m. It was not immediately clear if Holland had an attorney, or whether he would remain in custody in Pittsburgh. He was held overnight in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh prior to appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amy Reynolds Hay.Holland did not appear to be intoxicated when he was taken into custody Sunday night, Hresko said. "There was no alcohol on his breath, and when he was interviewed he said he hadn't had a drink for five years," Hresko said.The offense of abusive sexual contact, a federal misdemeanor, is punishable by [two years]
in prison and a [$250,000]fine.

Holland plead guilty Tuesday to abusive sexual contact in federal court. No sexual intent need be proven, just the harm to the victim in an abusive sexual contact charge, unlike other, more serious charges.

(Update 7-26-08) Holland was sentenced to a year's home detention for the above crime. Federal guidelines call for 6 to 12 months in federal prison.