Martinez · Courts · Police · Thu Oct 1 · Updated Fri Oct 2, 2:26 PM
Grade C, score 65 of 100 · open the full fact check 1 independent source checked · single-source check
Juries in Martinez convict former airline pilot and Walnut Creek woman of child sex abuse
What the reporting says
Two separate juries in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez found former airline pilot Rustom Bhagwagar, 35, and Walnut Creek resident Jennifer Spitz Powell, 46, guilty on all charges in the repeated sexual abuse of a girl, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday. Each faces up to 230 years to life in state prison.
- Rustom Bhagwagar, 35, a Florida resident who formerly flew for Delta Airlines, was arrested by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office at San Francisco International Airport in July 2025. He was held on $15 million bail and faced 24 felony charges tied to the repeated sexual abuse of a young girl, prosecutors said.
- Prosecutors tried the case in Martinez with a dual-jury format, so each defendant had a jury hearing the evidence that applied to them. One jury convicted Powell, a 46-year-old Walnut Creek resident, on Monday, September 28th, and a second jury convicted Bhagwagar on Tuesday, September 29th. Judge Danielle Douglas heard the case.
- Each defendant was found guilty of eight counts of sexual abuse involving a child 10 years old or younger, plus 12 counts of forcible lewd acts on a child under 14. Evidence shown to both juries indicated the abuse started when the girl was 7 and continued from 2017 to 2022, prosecutors said.
- Deputy District Attorney Haleigh Parkinson of the office's Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted the case, supported by a trial team. Both defendants will be sentenced at a later date. “This young survivor showed extraordinary courage by testifying in court,” District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement.
The full fact check7 outlets · Grade C
Grade C · score 65/100
The best-sourced telling, by NBC Bay Area, links no document and names three people or agencies on the record; one other outlet told it too, and the Wire's records match 2 of the 2 facts it could check.
Checked Fri Oct 2, 6:51 AM · 6 of 9 pages read
Sources checked
- Contra Costa County“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.”contracosta.ca.gov · Checked Fri Oct 2, 2:52 PM
- Contra Costa County“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.”contracosta.ca.gov · Checked Fri Oct 2, 2:52 PM
The reporting
- “Former airline pilot, girlfriend convicted of child sex abuse, East Bay DA says”NBC Bay Area
- “Walnut Creek Woman, Former Airline Pilot Convicted In Child Sexual Abuse Case”Claycord
- “Former Airline Pilot, Girlfriend Convicted Of Child Sexual Abuse In Rare Dual-Jury Prosecution”News24-680
- “Juries Convict Former Airline Pilot and Co-Defendant in Child Sexual Abuse Case”ContraCosta.news
- “Juries Convict Former Airline Pilot and Co-Defendant in Child Sexual Abuse Case”Contra Costa County
- “Contra Costa juries convict former Florida airline pilot, ex-girlfriend co-defendant for “repeated sexual abuse” of girl”Contra Costa Herald
record checkconfirmed by one source
Confirmed by Contra Costa County.
As NBC Bay Area wrote it: “A former airline pilot and his girlfriend were convicted of child sexual abuse, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday.”
As Contra Costa County puts it: “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.”
Confirmed by Contra Costa County.
As NBC Bay Area wrote it: “The criminal case against Bhagwagar and co-defendant and Walnut Creek resident Jennifer Spitz Powell, 46, was handled by two separate juries, prosecutors said.”
As Contra Costa County puts it: “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.”
coverage7 outlets
One outlet printed the agency's release as its story
NBC Bay Area
News report · Katy St. Clair | Bay City News · Thu Oct 1, 10:07 AM
“Former airline pilot, girlfriend convicted of child sex abuse, East Bay DA says”
A former airline pilot and his girlfriend were convicted of child sexual abuse, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday.
The opening, as NBC Bay Area wrote it
0 documents linked2 quotes4 of 9 paragraphs say where facts came from
Read the full story at NBC Bay Area
How this was graded19.1 + 11 + 20 + 10 + 5 = 65.1 of 100 · Grade C
- 19.1
- Sourcing · of 45
- 11
- Corroboration · of 15
- 20
- Record match · of 20
- 10
- Headline · of 10
- 5
- Transparency · of 10
Claycord
News report · CLAYCORD.com · Wed Sep 30, 2:56 PM
“Walnut Creek Woman, Former Airline Pilot Convicted In Child Sexual Abuse Case”
0 documents linked0 quotes1 of 2 paragraphs say where facts came from
Read the full story at Claycord
How this was graded16.5 + 11 + 20 + 10 + 6 = 63.5 of 100 · Grade C
- 16.5
- Sourcing · of 45
- 11
- Corroboration · of 15
- 20
- Record match · of 20
- 10
- Headline · of 10
- 6
- Transparency · of 10
News24-680
Reprinted release · NEWS24-680 · Wed Sep 30
“Former Airline Pilot, Girlfriend Convicted Of Child Sexual Abuse In Rare Dual-Jury Prosecution”
0 documents linked1 quote
Printed the agency's release as its story
ContraCosta.news
Reprinted release · CC News · Wed Sep 30, 2:59 PM
“Juries Convict Former Airline Pilot and Co-Defendant in Child Sexual Abuse Case”
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.
The opening, as ContraCosta.news wrote it
0 documents linked1 quote
Printed the agency's release as its story
Contra Costa County
Official release · Wed Sep 30, 3:44 PM
“Juries Convict Former Airline Pilot and Co-Defendant in Child Sexual Abuse Case”
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.
The opening, as Contra Costa County wrote it
0 documents linked1 quote
The agency’s own wordsContra Costa County
Contra Costa County · Wed Sep 30, 3:44 PM
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.
Due to the victim’s age and the nature of the crimes, the victim will not be named by the District Attorney’s Office to protect her identity.
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.”
Case No. 01-25-02241 | The People of the State of California v. Rustom Bhagwagar
Case No. 01-25-02242 | The People of the State of California v. Jennifer Spitz Powell
San Francisco Chronicle
News report · Wed Sep 30, 5:51 PM
“Walnut Creek: Former Airline Pilot, Girlfriend Convicted Of Multiple Counts Of Sex Abuse Of A Child”
Not graded · this link goes through Google News, which asks programs not to open it
San Francisco Chronicle
News report · Wed Sep 30, 6:22 PM
“Contra Costa jury finds pilot, ex-girlfriend guilty of child sex abuse against her child”
Not graded · this link goes through Google News, which asks programs not to open it
Contra Costa Herald
Reprinted release · Publisher · Thu Oct 1, 2:30 PM
“Contra Costa juries convict former Florida airline pilot, ex-girlfriend co-defendant for “repeated sexual abuse” of girl”
Face maximum of 230 years to life in state prison By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
The opening, as Contra Costa Herald wrote it
0 documents linked1 quote
Printed the agency's release as its story
NBC Bay Area
News report · Thu Oct 1, 10:07 AM
“Former airline pilot, girlfriend convicted of child sex abuse, East Bay DA says”
Not graded · this link goes through Google News, which asks programs not to open it
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