Former Airline Pilot, Girlfriend Convicted Of Child Sexual Abuse In Rare Dual-Jury Prosecution

Martinez, California – Separate juries in Contra Costa Superior Court convicted Rustom Bhagwagar and Jennifer Spitz Powell on all charges related to the repeated sexual abuse of a young girl.

A jury found 46-year-old Powell guilty on Monday, September 28th, and a second jury found 35-year-old Bhagwagar guilty on Tuesday, September 29th. Bhagwagar, a former commercial airline co-pilot from Florida, and Powell, from Walnut Creek, were each convicted of eight counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger and 12 counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14.

The case was heard in Martinez before Judge Danielle Douglas. In a rare dual-jury format, the court tried two defendants at once while making sure each jury heard only the evidence that applied to its assigned defendant. Evidence presented to both juries showed that the sexual abuse of the victim began when she was 7 years old and occurred from on or about October 17th, 2017, to October 16th, 2022. Powell, who was in a relationship with Bhagwagar, participated with him in numerous acts of abuse against the victim.

Bhagwagar and Powell each face a maximum sentence of 230 years to life in state prison. Both remain in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and will be sentenced by the court at a future date.

Deputy District Attorney Haleigh Parkinson of the Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted the case with support from a trial team that included legal assistants, a victim advocate, and victim support staff.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “This young survivor showed extraordinary courage by testifying in court and facing the people who used duress to harm her. These verdicts hold both defendants accountable. I am grateful to our entire team for their dedication in seeking, serving, and doing justice in
this case.”