MARION, Ohio — A man was sentenced on Tuesday for a sexual assault that happened at a Hobby Lobby store in Marion earlier this year.
According to Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan, 21-year-old Maurice Williams pleaded guilty in court to one count of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony.
Grogan said on April 11, Williams committed the sexual assault in an aisle near a 19-year-old Hobby Lobby employee who was busy with a jewelry display and had her back turned toward him.
The incident happened at the Hobby Lobby store on McMahon Boulevard.
Williams was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
"The swift conviction and sentencing in this case demonstrate our office's resolve to protect our citizens from criminal behavior. We want to send a clear message that any form of sex crime, especially in public settings, will not be tolerated and will be met with serious consequences," Grogan said.
Williams was also designated as a Tier I sex offender. He will be required to register annually for 15 years after leaving prison.
