A former Chicago doctor was found guilty on Thursday of sexually assaulting a passenger during a flight from Vienna to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in August 2024. Josip Pasic, 85, was convicted following a three-day bench trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, with U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood presiding. Pasic faces up to two years in prison, though no sentencing date was set immediately.

The victim, a 35-year-old heating and cooling specialist from St. Louis, testified that the man seated next to him falsely claimed to be a professor and repeatedly groped his thigh during the long-haul flight on August 17. According to testimony and video evidence presented in court, Pasic repeatedly touched the victim’s leg, including sliding his hand beneath a blanket to continue the behavior. The passenger described efforts to defuse the situation before seeking help from flight attendants, who he said responded with indifference or dismissal.

The victim further explained that he chose to record video evidence on his phone rather than confront Pasic physically, citing concerns about looking like the aggressor and Pasic’s own claim that members of his “group” would not face jail time. He also expressed suspicions that Pasic may have used a false academic identity as a means to exploit others, referring to a brief conversation during which Pasic offered to help him obtain a scholarship in Chicago.

Pasic’s legal counsel, Barry Spevack, challenged the allegations, describing them as fabricated and emphasizing that the incident occurred in a crowded cabin where no other passengers or crew observed inappropriate conduct. Spevack also noted that Pasic’s sister was seated nearby during the flight and did not report witnessing any misconduct. The defense argued that the videos did not prove sexual abuse.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cornelius “Kees” Vandenberg characterized Pasic’s pattern of conduct in the courtroom as “Seduction. Rejection. Assault. Repeat,” summarizing the prosecution’s position of repeated predatory behavior.

Pasic’s medical license was revoked in 2014 by the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation following accusations of sexual misconduct and boundary violations with psychiatric patients, as well as improper prescription practices and document falsification. Previous lawsuits filed in Cook County Circuit Court allege past sexual advances toward patients, including a case involving a former psychiatric patient whose family alleged Pasic offered money for oral sex in 2011. That patient later suffered a fatal overdose in 2012.

Although Pasic was initially issued a misdemeanor ticket after the flight, the felony indictment was filed more than a year later, in October 2025. Judge Wood ruled before trial that Pasic’s history of sexual misconduct would not be admissible in court unless the defense introduced his medical history.

The victim sought medical treatment upon returning home for tenderness resulting from the assault but did not report further serious injuries. The case highlights ongoing concerns about accountability and safety in public transportation settings.