A Poplar Bluff man sits in the Butler County jail and is facing sexual abuse and sexual misconduct charges after an incident that reportedly happened at a local retailer on Sunday.
Donald A. Raymer, 31, of the 1700 block of Garfield Street, has been charged with the Class C felony of first-degree sexual abuse after he allegedly inappropriately touched a juvenile female at JCPenney’s.
According to a press release from the Poplar Bluff Police Department, officers were dispatched to the business at 1:44 p.m. Sunday in reference to a juvenile female employee who allegedly had been touched inappropriately by an adult male customer.
Upon arrival, PBPD Lt. Joe Ward reportedly contacted one of the store managers, who provided further information and pointed out the suspect, who was immediately apprehended near the salon area.
The victim reported that Raymer grabbed her buttocks from behind and touched her between her legs.
Raymer was arrested on suspicion of second-degree sexual misconduct and was transported to PBPD headquarters, where he was processed and lodged in the Butler County jail.
However, after Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor reportedly reviewed body camera footage, video from JCPenney, and discussed the facts of the case with Ward, Proctor upgraded the charge to first-degree sexual abuse.
Raymer is being held at the Butler County jail on $100,000 bond on the sexual abuse charge. According to the press release, a warrant also has been issued on Raymer for a parole violation with no bond.
PBPD Chief Danny Whiteley commended Ward for his fast response and apprehension of “an obvious sexual predator by removing the suspect from the streets in an effort to prevent him from attacking another innocent female victim.”