Man gets 7 months for groping girl on flight from RP

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A 48-year-old man was sentenced to seven months in prison for groping a 14-year-old girl who sat next to him on a flight from the Philippines, according to the US attorney’s office.

Benjamin Caniaveral, of Alameda, California, was sentenced Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in October to assaulting a juvenile, spokeswoman Natalya LaBauve said.

Caniaveral touched the arm and stomach of the 14-year-old who was sleeping under a blanket in the window seat on a flight from Manila to San Francisco. He then moved his hand below the waist, waking the girl who called a flight attendant for help.

A federal judge rejected Caniaveral’s request for probation. He must report to prison by April 30.