Man Allegedly Molests A Child And Tries To Grope Woman On Flight To Florida

A 51-year-old man was arrested for allegedly molesting a child and trying to grope another woman on a flight from San Francisco to Orlando.

The man claimed he took an Ambien pill while on board and didn't remember anything about the assault.

Brian Patrick Durning, from Altadena, California, was sitting in the aisle seat of Delta Flight 2954 on the morning of June 24 when the incident took place. He told investigators that he had “one or two beers” in the airport before boarding the flight. He said he fell asleep on the flight after taking an Ambien pill and having a glass of white wine on board.

The young girl, older than 12 but younger than 16, was sitting next to Durning on the flight and said he began coughing and sneezing on her, 10 Tampa Bay WTSP reported.

The child told the U.S. Marshals office that he then started touching her hair and neck. She said she leaned away when Durning tried to put his arm around her.

The victim’s mother was also on the flight but couldn’t sit next to her because of a reservation issue.

The complaint stated that Durning touched the girl’s left thigh and moved it towards him as he called her “honey-boo.” Durning then allegedly penetrated her with his finger through her clothes, the document said, according to the New York Post.

The girl “froze as a result of Durning’s conduct,” the complaint said.

The woman seated next to the child was taking a nap during the alleged assault. When she woke up, she grew immediately grew concerned when she saw the man’s hand quickly move away from the girl’s groin area. She asked the girl if Durning touched her, and the girl said yes.

While giving her account to federal agents, the woman said the girl was “shaking and crying.” The woman then switched seats with the child and told Durning not to speak to the girl.

Durning then allegedly tried to touch the woman’s breast, according to the complaint.

The victim’s mother, who was sitting two rows ahead, saw her daughter mouthing the words “he touched me.” The mother then confronted Durning and noticed that his pants were unzipped, WFLA News Channel 8 reported.

A flight attendant moved Durning to another seat, and he was arrested when the flight landed at Orlando International Airport. Durning claimed he took an Ambien pill and couldn’t remember the alleged assault.

“Durning stated that he fell asleep,” court papers said. “He stated that the next thing he remembered was waking up and being asked to switch seats.”

The man is facing a federal charge of sexual contact with a minor and committing a crime while aboard a flight.

Court documents said Durning surrendered his passport and was released until further proceedings.