Maryland sherrif's deputy arrested for raping a woman while in uniform, stalking her for days
WARNING: This article contains details of incidents of sexual assault that some readers may find traumatic. Discretion is advised
WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND: Steven Victor Abreu, a sherrif's deputy in Maryland was arrested on Sunday, October 30, after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman.
As per Law&Crime, Abreu assaulted the woman in the parking lot of Kohl's department store on Wednesday, October 26, around 1 am. He then stalked her for the next couple of days, following her around from where she works. He has been charged with one count each of second-degree rape, second-degree assault, false imprisonment and sexual contact with a person in law enforcement custody, as well as three counts of misconduct in office, as per court documents accessed by the outlet.
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Documents further revealed that the survivor was meeting a friend in the parking lot when Abreu pulled up in a sheriff’s office vehicle and told them they could not be there after the store had closed. First he spoke to her friend and quickly released him. He then spoke to the survivor, taking down her contact number after which he "instructed her to get out of her vehicle, stating he wanted to check for illegal substances. She complied and described that he did not search her vehicle but proceeded to "frisk" her. She stated that he used his hands to grab her breasts and then grabbed her buttocks, the probable cause affidavit read.
Abreu, who was in uniform, continued manhandling her. He "told her to get back into her vehicle. which she did." "She said that he then leaned into the open driver’s side window, keeping his flashlight on and in his right hand. She said he then moved his left hand under her pants and penetrated her vagina with his fingers. She stated that he then began touching her breasts, under her clothing with his left hand, the affidavit further reads. All of this was done without the her consent. She told the police that she "did not feel free to leave and was fearful of what would happen if she did try to run away or fight him."
The survivor, who has been referred to as "JA" in the documents, mentioned that her friend called her up soon after to check on her. JA then lied to Abreu that it was her babysitter calling, "Hoping he would end the assault and let her leave." The deputy then gave his phone number to her and let her leave. However, the following days, he sent her several text messages that were "sexual" in nature. On October 28, JA was driving home after work when Abreu pulled up and "acted like he didn’t know it was her prior to stopping her." During their interaction, he asked her why she did not go to a store closer to her place of employment before heading off in the direction of her home, indicating he had been stalking her. He also "reached in to the vehicle and grabbed her face, in the area of her jawline, with his hand." She stated that he forcefully moved her face and looked at her neck. She said he commented on marks that he had seen on her neck during the first assault, no longer being visible. She said that he then let her go and told her that he would see her again and that "she was not to tell anyone about their interactions."
However, the next day, the survivor's fiance spotted Abreu's vehicle in the parking lot when he went to pick her from her job at 10.15 pm. On Sunday, she reported the matter. Officials recorded a call of the survivior speaking to the accused. In it, "Abreu spoke to JA about the incident and apologized three separate times." He also "admitted that he had turned off the camera systems in his car and his body-worn camera after the initial approach and prior to engaging in the conversation at the driver side door of JA’s vehicle." By the end of an interview with the investigating detective, "Abreu admitted to vaginally penetrating JA with his fingers, touching her breasts under her clothing and grabbing her breasts and buttocks while she was standing outside her vehicle. He stated that this all happened in the Kohl’s parking lot, during the first encounter he had with her. Abreu maintained that the sexual contact was consensual." The accused had been working at the sheriff's office for less than a year.