A Navy sailor accused of molesting a 13-year-old girl on a flight from Hawaii will remain in federal custody in Phoenix until his next hearing on Feb. 15, a federal judge ruled Friday.
Shawn Michael Cole, a 40-year-old sailor stationed at Pearl Harbor, was arrested Jan. 18 on suspicion of molesting a girl seated next to him on a flight from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
According to federal court documents, a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant noticed Cole touching the girl and asked if they were traveling together.
Cole said yes, but the girl said no.
Phoenix police said Cole later admitted to masturbating beside the girl, but he denied molesting her.
Cole is scheduled to appear 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at another detention hearing with U.S. Magistrate David G. Duncan at U.S. District Court in Phoenix.
