Lafayette attorney charged with sexual battery
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A staff member working for Lafayette attorney Earl McCoy accused him of trying to force himself on her when they returned to the office after having drinks, according to a probable cause affidavit.
McCoy, a GOP prosecutor candidate in 2018, faces a charge of sexual battery, which was filed Wednesday by a special prosecutor from Delaware County.
McCoy recently has been the WLFI-TV18 legal analyst for Delphi murder case against Richard Allen, who is accused of killing teenagers Libby German and Abby Williams.
Court documents indicate the alleged sexual assault, which is charged as a Level 6 felony, happened on May 6, 2022.
The Journal & Courier asked McCoy for comment about the charge. He said he would telephone later Wednesday. He did not call.
The Journal & Courier left a voicemail for McCoy Thursday morning asking for comment. He did not return the call as of deadline.
On that Friday evening — May 6, 2022 — McCoy and some of the office staff went to a local pub after work, where McCoy drank three doubles of bourbon and Coke according to the probable cause affidavit.
McCoy asked one of the staff members to let him into the office because he forgot his keys there, which she did, according to the affidavit.
Once in the office, McCoy poured the woman a drink and then asked her about her sexual past. McCoy approached her and put his hand on her neck as if he was going to kiss her, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The woman pushed McCoy away, and he pinned her against the wall, grabbed her right hand and tried to force it towards his crotch, according to the affidavit.
"I'll admit I crossed the line," McCoy told another co-worker who confronted him after the alleged assault, according to the affidavit.
During an interview with police, McCoy admitted to trying to kiss the woman after being out with the woman at a pub.
McCoy told police he asked to kiss the woman, and she told him no, according to the affidavit. At that point, McCoy said he backed off.
McCoy told police the only nonconsensual contact was when he touched the woman's neck while trying to get her to kiss him, according to the affidavit. McCoy denied trying to force the woman to touch his crotch.
If convicted, a Level 6 felony carries a possible prison sentence of between six and 30 months, according to Indiana law.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette attorney charged with sexual battery
