MARTINEZ – A commercial airline co-pilot is facing 24 felony charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor following his arrest over the weekend at San Francisco International Airport, according to prosecutors.
Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, of Florida, is set to be arraigned Wednesday on charges including engaging in a sexual act with a child 10 years old or younger, oral copulation with a child, forcible lewd acts upon a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Prosecutors said a second person, 45-year-old Jennifer Powell, has also been charged in a related felony complaint, but they did not specify how she is connected to Bhagwagar or the victim. The charges in both cases carry terms of 15 years to life in state prison.
The alleged crimes occurred between 2018 and 2023 in the county, prosecutors said.
Detectives opened an investigation in April after receiving a report of sex crimes against a child, according to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. The victim told them she had been abused by the co-pilot several times a week between the ages of 6 to 10 and that her mother was often present during the abuse, authorities said.
Authorities arrested Bhagwagar, a co-pilot with Delta Air Lines, after he touched down Saturday evening at SFO. Powell was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.
“Our office stands firmly committed to protecting children and holding those who cause harm accountable,” District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement Tuesday.
“Every child deserves to feel safe, protected and heard when an injustice like this occurs,” Becton said. “By pursuing these cases vigorously, we not only seek justice for victims but also work to safeguard our entire community from those who would prey on children.”
In a statement, Delta Air Lines said the company has “zero tolerance for unlawful conduct” and vowed to fully cooperate with the investigation.
“We are appalled,” the company said, adding that the co-pilot had been suspended pending an investigation.
Bhagwagar remains in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility on a $15 million bond.
Check back for updates.
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