Arrests in Child Sex Abuse Case

In a shocking turn of events, a former girlfriend of a Delta Airlines pilot, who was arrested last weekend on child sex abuse allegations after landing in San Francisco, has also been taken into custody. She is accused of participating in the sexual abuse of her own daughter.

Jennifer Powell, 45, faces charges for allegedly joining her ex-boyfriend, Rustom Bhagwagar, 34, in the abuse that reportedly took place from when the girl was six years old until she turned eleven.

Details from the documents show that Powell was aware of the abuse happening to her daughter, who lived elsewhere, and that she not only witnessed it but also actively took part.

It’s worth noting that the reasons why Powell’s daughter did not reside with her have not been disclosed.

Bhagwagar was arrested on Saturday night by federal agents shortly after Delta Flight 2809 arrived in San Francisco from Minneapolis. He faces serious charges including 24 felony counts related to various forms of child sexual abuse, including oral copulation and aggravated assault on a minor. Initially, he was charged with five counts of oral copulation with a child under ten.

Powell also faces multiple charges, and if found guilty, both could potentially face up to 15 years in prison.

Bhagwagar has been under investigation since April, following a report of child sexual abuse made to the sheriff’s office. There isn’t much publicly available information regarding his background or pilot training.

Delta Airlines, Bhagwagar’s former employer, confirmed his suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.

“Delta has zero tolerance for unlawful conduct and will fully cooperate with law enforcement,” a spokesperson said. “We are appalled by reports of the charges related to the arrest, and the individual in question has been suspended pending an investigation.”

District Attorney Diana Becton stated that both Bhagwagar and Powell are currently held at the Martinez Detention Center with a bond set at $15 million.