jetwash
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Pilot Accused of Sexual Assault
Man Contends Encounter Was Consensual
POSTED: 5:16 am EDT August 3, 2005
UPDATED: 2:23 pm EDT August 3, 2005
JONESBORO -- A commercial freelance pilot was in custody Wednesday after he was accused of sexually assaulting a teenaged girl Tuesday in the stairwell of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Michael Darren Matthews, 39, of Daytona, Fla., was being held at the Clayton County Jail in connection with the alleged assault of the 16-year-old girl, who was not identified. Matthews was expected to appear Wednesday afternoon in a Clayton court for a preliminary hearing.
Atlanta police were called to the C Concourse Tuesday afternoon after the teen asked for help. The girl told authorities that she was sexually assaulted in a stairwell after getting off of a plane.
She was taken to Hughes-Spalding Hospital for treatment after the incident. It was not immediately clear if the stairwell was restricted to public access.
Authorities said the man was on his way to Cleveland, Ohio to pilot a corporate plane and was traveling through Atlanta. The man was employed by a firm called Flight Options. The two apparently met on the flight from Florida to Atlanta, and were seat mates.
Authorities said the Matthews was wearing his pilot's uniform, which was confiscated by investigators, at the time of the alleged incident.
Sources told Channel 2 Action News that the man contends the encounter was consensual.
The grandmother of Matthews told reporters in Florida that she was shocked by the allegations.
"I know that a lot of kids blame things on people," said Barbara Matthews. "I hope this is the problem. Maybe it's not. I don't know. I'm not the kind of grandmother who would protect him if he's done wrong. He's certainly old enough to know better."
Man Contends Encounter Was Consensual
POSTED: 5:16 am EDT August 3, 2005
UPDATED: 2:23 pm EDT August 3, 2005
JONESBORO -- A commercial freelance pilot was in custody Wednesday after he was accused of sexually assaulting a teenaged girl Tuesday in the stairwell of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Michael Darren Matthews, 39, of Daytona, Fla., was being held at the Clayton County Jail in connection with the alleged assault of the 16-year-old girl, who was not identified. Matthews was expected to appear Wednesday afternoon in a Clayton court for a preliminary hearing.
Atlanta police were called to the C Concourse Tuesday afternoon after the teen asked for help. The girl told authorities that she was sexually assaulted in a stairwell after getting off of a plane.
She was taken to Hughes-Spalding Hospital for treatment after the incident. It was not immediately clear if the stairwell was restricted to public access.
Authorities said the man was on his way to Cleveland, Ohio to pilot a corporate plane and was traveling through Atlanta. The man was employed by a firm called Flight Options. The two apparently met on the flight from Florida to Atlanta, and were seat mates.
Authorities said the Matthews was wearing his pilot's uniform, which was confiscated by investigators, at the time of the alleged incident.
Sources told Channel 2 Action News that the man contends the encounter was consensual.
The grandmother of Matthews told reporters in Florida that she was shocked by the allegations.
"I know that a lot of kids blame things on people," said Barbara Matthews. "I hope this is the problem. Maybe it's not. I don't know. I'm not the kind of grandmother who would protect him if he's done wrong. He's certainly old enough to know better."