WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. — A Fenton man is being held without bond after he was accused of sexually abusing a woman on the parking lot of a Webster Groves restaurant.
Robert Merritt, 28, was charged with first-degree sexual abuse in connection with the July 10 incident outside Cyrano's Cafe.
According to the probable cause statement, police said Merritt drove a green moped onto the parking lot of the restaurant while yelling. After he got off the moped, he walked up to a woman who was leaving the restaurant, pinned her to her friend's car and touched her genitals through her clothing.
Police said Merritt forced the victim against the car so hard that it caused damage to the front quarter panel of the car.
This is not the first time that Merritt was charged with assault. In February, Merritt was charged with three counts of fourth-degree assault for three incidents in "the Northern area of the City of Kirkwood."
According to charging documents in the Kirkwood incidents, police said Merritt was riding around on a moped. Police said he got off the moped three different times, approached three different women and touched them in their "buttock area."
Merritt was taken into custody after the alleged Kirkwood incidents. He was released after posting a $175 bond.
Merritt was arrested again after the alleged incident in Webster Groves. He is being held without bond.
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