Third victim comes forward in South Bend police officer sexual assault case
Posted: Nov 11, 2011 2:02 AM EDT | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 1:33 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- ABC 57 News has learned a third woman is claiming a South Bend police officer touched her inappropriately.
Jeffery Chester was put on unpaid, administrative leave and is now facing two felony charges and two battery charges.
The 26-year-old is accused of fondling two different women during traffic stops while he was on duty. Now, there is said to be a third victim.
Today the South Bend police department confirmed that a third complaint has been made against Jeffery Chester and that they're currently investigating those claims right now.
According to documents obtained by ABC 57 News he was charged with two felony counts of official misconduct and two counts of battery back on October 24Th.
It all stems from an investigation that Chester sexually assaulted two women while on the clock during the month of September. Each of the incidents happened just two miles away each other. Chester is said to have pulled-over and fondled each of the women during separate traffic stops.
Chester was then relieved of duty on October 6Th after the first woman came forward.
The woman, who is the daughter of a local minister, says Chester pulled her over near Howard Park on St. Louis and Wayne Streets.
The woman says that Chester then asked her to pull into a nearby church parking lot, and that is where she says Chester touched her inappropriately.
When ABC 57 News talked to that woman's family last month, they said they wanted justice and have since hired a lawyer.
Martin McCloskey is handling the woman's case but refused to comment when asked for a statement today.
If convicted of all four charges and given the maximum sentence, Chester could face up to 16 years in prison.