Patel, who has worked at the motel at 800 N. Broad St. since April 2009, was arrested April 23 by Fairborn detectives. They conducted an investigation in response to several female employees ages 20 to 45 who said Patel sexually harassed and assaulted them.
Patel, who lived at the motel with his wife and 3-year-old child, was accompanied by his wife when he entered his not guilty plea on May 21.
Patel’s attorney, John Rion, filed several motions ranging from a change of venue to excluding a rape test kit to separating the alleged victims into different cases to having Patel’s statement to the police suppressed from the record. Only the motion to sever the trials was granted.
“I think one of the gals initiated something, so they went all around to the rest of the employees and dug up a bunch of charges,” Rion said the day Patel pleaded not guilty. “It is odd and unusual. No mention had been made to (Patel’s wife), even though she works tirelessly (at the motel) with these women.”
However, a Fairborn police report states that one alleged victim did talk to Patel’s wife, and then saw her work hours and work days reduced. The report details how the women said Patel would repeatedly grope, squeeze and corner them as well as attempt to see what color underwear they wore. They also allege that he kissed, hugged, fondled and pinned them against walls.
“You can understand the position some of these women were in,” Greene County Prosecutor Stephen K. Haller said in May. “They’re working there; they want to keep their job; (they were) trying to put up with this conduct; and they may not have reported it initially.
“But then when others reported, they start checking and independently start confirming the same kind of conduct.”
Adolfo Tornichio and Nichole Burke are prosecuting the case.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951.
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