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New Jersey Man Admits To Sex Assault On Airplane

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- A New Jersey man has admitted he sexually abused a sleeping female passenger on a flight from Hong Kong to Newark.

Sixty-four-year-old Ramesh Advani of Berkeley Heights pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Newark to a charge of abusive sexual contact.

Prosecutors say Advani was seated next to the victim on an overnight Continental Airlines flight on May 21, 2010. Advani admitted he reached under a blanket covering the woman and sexually abused her.

She awoke and alerted the flight crew. Advani was detained when the plane landed.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 1.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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