Staff Report

Samuel Gomez

SOUTH WHITLEY — A South Whitley man was recently arrested after inappropriately touching an employee at a café.

Samuel Gomez, 49, 706 S. State St., South Whitley, is charged with sexual battery, a level 6 felony; and four counts of battery, all class B misdemeanors.

On July 29, a person told officers that they were uncomfortable with their boss, Gomez. According to court documents, the person said they started working at the South Whitley establishment in May. One day, the person said they were upset and gave Gomez a hug to feel better. After this incident, more hugs occurred with Gomez, typically in the restaurant’s basement or freezer.

During these hugs, Gomez would touch the person in a sexual manner. The person recalled one incident that occurred in the downstairs portion of the restaurant where Gomez hugged, kissed and caressed the person without consent. The person said this went on for about five minutes. Once they returned upstairs, Gomez asked if the person was mad at him, and the person said they were not but were confused and lost.

When Gomez asked the person if they wanted to go home, he asked for a kiss. The person did kiss Gomez on the cheek because they felt pressured to in order to get home and out of the situation.

The person told officers that the hugging and inappropriate contact started in July.

On Aug. 4, officers spoke with Gomez about the incidents involving the person. When asked about touching between him and the person, he allegedly said “I made a mistake.” Gomez told officers he felt bad and that he had never done anything like that before.

Gomez has an initial hearing on this case at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5.