Sexual Battery Alleged In WorkplaceA Leesburg man is facing a sexual battery charge after allegedly groping a girl in the restaurant where both of them worked.
Jesus Velazquez, 20, of 489 E. Armstrong Road, Leesburg, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 6:30 p.m. Friday for sexual battery. His bond was set at $5,000 surety and $250 cash.
Court documents filed Wednesday list the charges against him as sexual battery, a level 6 felony, and battery, a Class B misdemeanor.
On March 13, North Webster Police Department Chief Greg Church spoke with Kosciusko County Child Protective Services caseworker Melissa Beery. She said a girl was employed at Maria’s House of Pancakes and a co-worker – Velazquez – had touched her genitalia without her permission or consent. The girl’s name and age were redacted in court documents.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy James Smith spoke with the girl, who said on March 8 she was cleaning the women’s restroom and Velazquez came into the restroom and turned the lights off. She turned the lights back on, and Velazquez turned them off again and grabbed her from the back. He placed his hands on her genitalia and breast without her permission, and then pulled the girl away from the light switch.
She told Velazquez to leave the bathroom but he continued trying to have a conversation with her while he fondled her.
Velazquez eventually left the bathroom, but returned and put his finger on his lips with a motion for her to be quiet and not tell anyone.
The girl said she then was cleaning the men’s restroom when Velazquez entered and again grabbed her and pulled her backside up against him. He heard a noise from a nearby room and left the restroom.
On March 19, NWPD officer David May spoke with Velazquez, who immediately told May that he knew what the officer wanted to talk about. Velazquez said that on March 8 he was not working but stopped by Maria’s to use the bathroom. He said the girl was cleaning the bathroom and he asked to use it.
He said the girl was giggling and flirting with him and he pushed her away and closed the door to the bathroom. While he was pushing her away, she turned her chest toward him and he pushed her out of the restroom.
Velazquez said he told the girl not to tell anyone because he has a wife and a newborn child and people talk.
