Published: January 27, 2009 10:27 am      

Peru man accused of fondling woman

Judge finds probable cause to charge attempted sexual battery

A judge on Monday found probable cause to charge a Peru man with attempted sexual battery.

Cass Superior Court II Judge Rick Maughmer determined the prosecution had enough evidence against 22-year-old Ryan Wayne Fox with attempted sexual battery, a class D felony.

Officer Jeff Schnepp, serving as the Royal Center town marshal, arrested Fox Sunday evening after a report from a 20-year-old woman who claimed that Fox tried to have sex with her inside a car between Twelve Mile and Logansport. She reportedly denied his advances, but he fondled her and masturbated in front of her.

Schnepp said the woman’s 1-year-old baby was inside the vehicle at the time of the alleged incident.

The woman provided police with a written statement. She made the report shortly after returning to her home in Royal Center.

Fox, who had been driving his girlfriend’s vehicle, denied the allegations.

Deputy Prosecutor Jim Chovanec presented the state’s case to Judge Maughmer.

Because the count is a class D felony, the case will be moved into Judge Thomas Perrone’s Cass Superior Court I. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com