An 83-year-old high-end collector, safari hunter and global businessman from Nevada was charged Tuesday with grabbing the breast of a medical assistant as they flew to Minnesota on his private jet for a hospital visit.

Robert M. Lee of Reno was charged in federal court in Minneapolis with assault, accused of grabbing and painfully twisting the nipple of a paramedic/respiratory specialist, who said: "You do not touch me like that. Do not do that again."

According to the indictment, Lee responded "I can do whatever I want. ... This is my airplane."

Lee then allegedly made a pinching gesture with his fingers toward a registered nurse who also was on the Sept. 21, 2010, flight to Rochester, saying, "That's what I'm going to do with you."

Lee also told the nurse that she should wear a V-neck shirt so he could slide his hand in more easily, according to the indictment.

If convicted, Lee faces a maximum penalty of six months in prison.

"While this is only a misdemeanor, it still must be addressed because no one is above the law," said Jeanne Cooney, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office. "We take all crime seriously, particularly crimes with victims. And in this case, the victim was confined to an aircraft for a long period of time and was unable to leave."

The case is being prosecuted at the federal level because the crime because airspace falls under federal jurisdiction, she said.

The Gulfstream corporate jet is registered to Deeside Trading Co., an umbrella operation for Lee's extensive collections of vintage cars, firearms, fine art, Fabergé eggs and other items, said business associate Tom Vallance.

Lee is also an author and conservationist, and his world travels have included African safaris and a scientific expedition into mountainous China in 1980 that led to the "rediscovery" of the Marco Polo sheep, according to Lee's biography on his high-end publisher's website.

He also founded Hunting World Inc., maker of luggage and leather goods for adventurers and frequent travelers, the biography added. Its outlets stretch from Hawaii to the Far East.

Vallance, whose Yellowstone Press works in-house for Lee, said he was not sure why Lee was seeking medical attention last September.

"I see him a couple of times a week," said Vallance, who added that Lee is married. "He looks pretty good to me. He has lots of energy."

Messages for Lee seeking his reaction to the indictment were left at Deeside's offices and with Yellowstone Press.

Staff writer Mary Lynn Smith contributed to this report. Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482