NEWARK (BNO NEWS) — A New Jersey man who flew on a Continental Airlines flight from Newark to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California has been arrested and charged after allegedly sexually assaulting two women aboard the flight, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Wednesday.

James Dalton Bratcher, 35, was arrested on Sunday by the FBI and the Orange County, California Sheriff’s Department. According to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Bratcher allegedly initiated unwanted sexual contact with two females with whom he was not acquainted. The alleged assault took place on board Continental Airlines flight 787, a night flight from Newark to Orange County.

The charge alleged in the complaint, “knowingly engaging in and causing sexual contact with another person without the person’s permission, while in the maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, including the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, a violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 2244 (b) and Title 49, U.S. Code, Section 46506 (1), carries a statutory maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison per count.

Title 49 United States Code, Section 46501 establishes the Special Aircraft/Maritime Jurisdiction of the United States and gives the federal government jurisdiction in all criminal matters occurring on any civil aircraft of the U.S. while in flight, regardless of departure or arrival location.

According to a sworn affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, by Special Agent Heather Luke, Victim 1 fell asleep approximately two hours prior to the flight landing at John Wayne Airport. “Approximately one hour prior to landing, Victim #1 was suddenly awakened because it felt as if someone (unbeknownst to her) used their entire hand to grab her right breast,” Luke wrote in the sworn affidavit. “The touch lasted for less than five seconds.”

The documents say the victim woke up and observed a male, who was identified to be Bratcher. “Victim #1 was very shocked by this event and her heart was racing,” said Luke.

The alleged victim then attempted to return to sleep, even though she said she felt very vulnerable, but was unable to sleep. About 20 minutes prior to landing, the victim felt her right breast being grabbed again. She jumped up and shouted loudly, “Oh my god!” She then informed the flight attendant, who spoke to Bratcher and notified the flight deck and Continental Airlines’ Security.

A second woman also came forward and alleged Bracher had touched her after the first victim reported the incident. The second victim said she fell asleep and was suddenly awakened by an “impact” to her right breast. She woke up and realized someone had grabbed her right breast. “Victim #2 described the impact as a quick grab, but it felt as if someone’s entire hand covered her right breast,” Luke said.

Bratcher denied the allegation during an interview the next day, but refused to take a polygraph. “This is bad because I don’t touch peoples breast,” Bratcher said.

“During the interview, Bratcher referred to himself as being a ‘dickhead.’ Bratcher then claimed he did not do anything wrong, even though he agreed it was a good question why someone would accuse him of such a thing,” Luke wrote. “According to Bratcher, he got on the plane, sat down, talked to [the] guy next to him, drank a few drinks, he was not unruly, and he did not exhibit dickhead behavior – even though he previously stated he was a dickhead.”

Bratcher said he does not do “stuff like that” and stated, “If anyone were to ever say that about me, I would feel disgraced and be harmed by it.” Luke also observed Bratcher as he made a phone call to his fiance, who he told, “We’re going to see if this doesn’t just magically go away.”

“I am not a pervert,” Bratcher said before he was transported to the Santa Ana Jail, where he remains in police custody on behalf of the federal government.

Bratcher made an initial appearance in the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana on Tuesday afternoon and was remanded to federal custody.