No Bail Reduction for North Bergen Man Accused of Sex Abuse in Cross-Country Flight

Bail will remain at $500,000 for a New Jersey man accused of sexually abusing a sleeping female passenger on a cross-country flight.

Federal prosecutors have been seeking to prevent Bawer Aksal from being released on bail. They claim the Turkish-born Aksal, who lives in North Bergen, is a flight risk.

Last week, a friend of Aksal's offered his home as equity for Aksal's initial bail, which was set at $100,000. But during a bail hearing Monday, Aksal's attorney, Robert DeGroot, said the friend rescinded the offer when Aksal's bail was increased to $500,000.

Aksal has denied sexually abusing the woman who was seated next to him on the flight in August.

DeGroot says he will try to come up with a new bail package.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)