A grand jury in Montgomery County returned an indictment Monday for sexual abuse against Perry Hooper Jr., co-chairman of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign in Alabama, according to court filings.
Hooper, a former Republican state representative, was arrested in August by federal marshals on felony sexual abuse charges after an employee of a Montgomery restaurant, Ravello, told police that he assaulted her inside the restaurant.
The indictment filed Monday essentially relied upon the information in the original affidavit filed by the alleged victim and charged Hooper, officially, with “sexual contact by forcible compulsion.”
According to the affidavit, Hooper approached the worker from behind as she was working in the restaurant’s front area. Hooper allegedly touched her breasts, grabbed her by the waist and began thrusting his pelvis area into her and kissed her on the neck before she was able to break free.
Two sources who were present at the restaurant that night, but who didn’t witness the alleged assault, said Hooper and others were there for a fundraising event. The sources also said that video footage of the incident was turned over to Montgomery police.
A message left with Hooper’s attorney, Joe Espy, was not immediately returned on Tuesday morning. Hooper remains free on $15,000 bond.
