Texas Man Arrested for Alleged Sex Assault of Minor on Aircraft

A Texas man, 76 year-old Vincent Kopacek, was arrested at the Bozeman International Airport on charges that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a minor on board an aircraft.

Public Information Officer for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Sandra Yi Barker has details.

“On the evening of Sunday, July 11, FBI agents, with the assistance of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bozeman Yellowstone International Public Safety Office, made a probable cause arrest of Vincent Harry Kopacek, age 76, of Fredericksburg, Texas, on one federal count each of attempted sexual abuse of a minor, abusive sexual contact, and assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction,” said Barker. “Law enforcement detained Kopacek as he checked in for his flight departing the airport in Bozeman.”

Barker delineated the charges against Kopacek.

“On July 8, 2021, Kopacek was seated behind a 15-year-old girl on a flight from Austin, Texas to Bozeman,” she said. “According to the criminal complaint and court documents, Kopacek inappropriately touched the minor female before and during the flight. The victim documented the alleged abuse with her cell phone. After departing the airport, the victim reported the alleged contact to her family, who alerted authorities.

Kopacek made his initial appearance on Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

Federal criminal codes indicate that if found guilty of all charges, Kopacek could be imprisoned for up to 15 years.