Boston dad on JetBlue flight with wife and four kids convicted of sexual abuse after making teen girl’s flight a living hell

A Boston father has been convicted after he was accused of groping a teen girl on a JetBlue flight. Jonathan Alan Lefman, 48, was with his wife and four children when he repeatedly pushed his hand through the seat in front of him to fondle the 17-year-old girl.

Lefman was found guilty of sexually inappropriate behavior on a flight this week after a three-day trial. The father was convicted of sexually abusing the young girl on board the flight from Puerto Rico to Boston, according to an announcement made on Thursday by the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

The incident occurred on August 30, 2024. At the time, Lefman had been sitting next to his 16-year-old son when he wedged his hand through the seat in front and began repeatedly touching the teen girl’s buttocks without her permission, according to The New York Post. He had also been travelling with his wife and three other children.

The victim was reportedly able to catch the dad in the act, snapping a photo that showed his fingers poking through the back and bottom gap of the seat. 

Lefman was confronted once the plane had landed

After the passengers aboard the JetBlue flight had deplaned, a family member of the girls reported Lefman to a member of staff. When the father of four was later questioned by investigators, he claimed he had been stretching. When shown the image of his fingers poking through the chair and asked if the fingers were familiar, he replied: “Not really, no.”

In a statement, attorney Leah B. Foley accused the defendant of repeatedly sexually abusing a minor “who was simply trying to travel safely aboard a commercial flight.”

Following his trial, Lefman was found guilty of one count of abusive sexual contact. Foley celebrated the verdict, claiming that it “holds the defendant accountable for his disturbing conduct and sends a clear message that those who prey on vulnerable passengers will face justice.” 

Meanwhile, Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, praised the victim’s “remarkable courage,” and branded Lefman’s conduct as “harmful and predatory.” He also added that “The FBI is fully committed to protecting children and ensuring those who exploit or abuse them, like Mr. Lefman, are brought to justice.”

Lefman is expected to receive his sentence on January 12, 2027. He could face up to two years in prison as well as five years to a lifetime of supervised release. He could also be handed a fine of up to $250,000.