A former youth pastor has been convicted of abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft. Justin Baker, 41, was arrested March 14 after sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman on a flight from Burbank, California, to Seattle.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the western district of Washington announced the conviction on Thursday (Oct. 24), noting that the jury only took 90 minutes to deliberate following a three-day trial.
Baker was arrested after the Alaska Airlines flight on which he was boarded arrived at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
According to the victim’s testimony, Baker was in the middle seat and the victim was seated by the window. Baker conversed with the victim, who disclosed her age and told Baker that she was preparing to go to college.
The victim alleged that Baker showed her sexually explicit text messages he had on his phone before draping his jacket over both their laps. Baker then proceeded to grope the victim’s leg and genitals over her clothing.
The victim said that she attempted to move away from Baker and asked him to stop, but he persisted, attempting to grope her breast.
Eventually, the victim was able to get away from Baker, and she reported the assault to the plane’s flight crew. She said that as she passed Baker to get into the aisle of the plane, Baker groped her buttocks.
