BOSTON –An Arizona man was sentenced Thursday to more than seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman sleeping next to him on an airline flight — an incident the judge called a “disgusting, despicable” crime.

Deepak Jahagirdar, 55, a former health care executive from Scottsdale, Ariz., was convicted in April of sexually abusing and having abusive sexual contact with the woman, then 22.

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf rejected a bid by Jahagirdar’s lawyers to sentence him to probation and community service.

Wolf chastised Jahagirdar for lying when he testified at his trial that the woman initiated a sexual encounter with him. He also blasted Jahagirdar for failing to mention the victim or express any remorse when he asked for mercy before he was sentenced.

“You’ve deeply and painfully hurt another person, and you seem to have no appreciation for that, even now, whatsoever,” Wolf said.

Wolf sentenced Jahagirdar to the precise term sought by prosecutors, 87 months. He also imposed two years of probation and a $25,000 fine.

The woman was traveling alone and returning to Boston from a vacation in Texas in March 2002, when she said she awoke to find that Jahagirdar had covered her with a blanket, unbuttoned her pants and had his hand inside her.

The woman left her seat and alerted the flight crew. Jahagirdar was arrested by Massachusetts State Police when the flight landed at Logan International Airport in Boston.

The case was transferred from state to federal court because the assault occurred in mid flight.

The woman, now 25, did not speak at the sentencing hearing. She wiped away tears after Wolf announced the sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John McNeil said the woman has been traumatized by the incident and remains “deeply afraid.” McNeil criticized Jahagirdar for telling the jury that the woman initiated sexual contact.

“What he did is what every sexual assault victim fears most. He turned the tables on her … he said she was some sort of harlot and wanted to be sexually aroused on an airplane,” he said.

Jahagirdar told the judge he and his wife immigrated from India 25 years ago. He his family has always tried to live their lives according to Hindu principles, including love, service, peace and nonviolence.

He said his life fell apart when he was arrested, and asked the judge to show leniency.

“I promise you that I will serve my family, my church and the community at large with every fiber of my being,” he said.

Jahagirdar has 10 days to file a notice of appeal.