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Perry Hooper Jr. issues apology, admits “regrettable conduct”

Hooper was facing a felony sexual assault charge.

Perry Hooper Jr.'s arrest page on the website of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Montgomery County Sheriff
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A day after a Montgomery Circuit Court granted a motion to drop a felony sexual assault charge against him, former state Rep. Perry Hooper Jr. issued a public apology on Tuesday in which he admitted to unacceptable behavior towards a restaurant hostess. 

“I would like to express my sincerest apologies to (the victim),” Hooper wrote in a statement released by his attorney, Joe Espy. “I was wrong and I take full responsibility for my actions. (The victim) is an exemplary person and my behavior was unacceptable. I hope she will accept this apology for my regrettable conduct.”

Hooper’s victim released a statement last week in which she asked that the charges against Hooper be dismissed, saying that she had resolved the issue with Hooper and didn’t wish to go through a trial. 

Montgomery County Chief Deputy District Attorney Azzie Taylor said at the time that it would be difficult to prosecute any sexual assault case without cooperation from the victim. 

Hooper was arrested in August and indicted in November on a felony count of sexual assault for his behavior following a fundraiser in a downtown Montgomery restaurant. According to a police report, Hooper approached his alleged victim from behind, grabbed her breasts, began thrusting his pelvis into her and kissing her neck.

Josh Moon is an investigative reporter and featured columnist at the Alabama Political Reporter with years of political reporting experience in Alabama. You can email him at jmoon@alreporter.com or follow him on Twitter.

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