Jonathan Alan Lefman, 48, of Newton Centre, Newtown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States has been convicted. He is accused of inappropriately touching a minor during a flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA to Boston, Massachusetts.
Jonathan Alan Lefman
Before moving to Newton Centre, Lefman lived in different parts of Maryland, USA including Silver Spring and Bethesda. He has three daughters and his first child, a son, was born in 2008.
On August 30, 2024, Lefman traveled on JetBlue flight 62 with his wife and their four minor children. Wearing a light short-sleeve shirt, dark hat, and glasses, he allegedly engaged in abusive sexual contact against another person while they were aboard the plane and flying from the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan to the Boston Logan International Airport in Boston.
During the flight and while on the ground waiting to deplane in Boston, Lefman allegedly worked his hand intentionally and repeatedly in between and through the area between the back and bottom of the seat directly in front of him where a girl, then 17, was seated and touched her buttocks without her permission. The girl, who was traveling with five extended family members, captured a video of his hand protruding into her seat and another video of him and his family getting off the aircraft onto a jet bridge.
Later that day, after being provided with Miranda warnings, Lefman agreed to be interviewed by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Massachusetts State Police investigators with his attorney present. He denied having had any contact with the girl.
On September 9, 2024, FBI investigators interviewed the girl and she demonstrated how she captured the video of Lefman’s hand. On February 7, 2025, he was arrested and charged for allegedly making repeated sexual contact with her.
On March 4, 2025, Lefman was indicted on one count of abusive sexual contact while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the U.S. On October 16, 2026, he was convicted of the charge after a three-day jury trial.
On January 12, 2027, Lefman will be sentenced. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick will determine his sentence under federal law and sentencing guidelines.
Newton, Massachusetts
Settled in 1639 and incorporated as a city in 1874, Newton is uniquely structured around 13 distinct villages, including Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, West Newton, and Waban. The city is known for its role in the annual Boston Marathon, hosting the legendary Heartbreak Hill where spectators gather each spring to cheer on runners tackling the course’s most grueling stretch.
Home to top-ranked public schools, historic landmarks like the Jackson Homestead, and prestigious higher education institutions such as Boston College, Newton offers an exceptional blend of civic history and modern suburban living. With its convenient transit connections via the MBTA Green Line and major highways, the city remains one of the most desirable communities in the Greater Boston area.
