LINCOLN, Neb.-- An Indiana man has been sentenced for an incident involving unwanted sexual contact onboard a commercial flight over Nebraska.

United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that 39-year-old Ian Wagner was sentenced Thursday in Lincoln by United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Wagner was charged with abusive sexual contact of an incapacitated person and will now serve 18 months in prison, followed by six years of supervised release with special conditions.

Wagner was additionally ordered to pay $500 in restitution to the victim.  There is no parole in the federal system.

On October 6, 2017, Wagner was on board a domestic flight from Indianapolis, Indiana to Denver, Colorado. He was seated next to an 18-year-old woman.

During the flight, the woman fell asleep and later awoke to Wagner rubbing her inner thigh with his hand. She then took a photograph of Wagner, which indicated that the plane was flying over Hastings, Nebraska at the time.

The woman then left her seat, sought refuge in the airplane’s bathroom, but eventually returned to her seat because she believed the flight was full and no other seats would be available. 

After retaking her seat, she saw that Wagner had placed a jacket over his lap and his hand appeared to be moving under the jacket. Wagner made eye contact with her and lifted his jacket, exposing himself. 

For over five minutes, Wagner masturbated while staring at the woman, according to court records. The woman then lodged a complaint with the airline two days later and with criminal authorities in the following weeks.

This case was investigated by the FBI.