(Davenport, IA) -- A Bettendorf man charged with felony sexual abuse pleads guilty to a lesser charge.
Scott County court records show that 20 year old Damian Neil McMahill filed a written plea of guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual assault, an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by two years in prison, through his attorney. Police say McMahill forcibly grabbed and groped a woman at a Davenport Walmart.
Investigators say on October 15th, officers responded to Walmart, 3101 W. Kimberly Road, for an assault in the store. Police learned McMahill followed the woman for about two or three minutes and, once she stopped in an aisle to shop, forcibly grabbed her around the neck and groped her. The woman tried to fight back. Neither the woman nor McMahill knew each other before the incident.
Police say after the incident, he changed his clothing and hairstyle and was located by police in his car in the storeās parking lot. The clothing worn during the assault was recovered. McMahill told officers that he grabbed the woman because āshe was pretty.ā Store surveillance video showed McMahill following the woman around the store before the incident, according to the affidavit.
According to a written plea agreement, his plea is open, meaning prosecutors can make any recommendation when he is sentenced on April 21. McMahill will be required to register as a sex offender, court records show.
Scott County court records show McMahill pleaded guilty in February 2019 to assault. According to an arrest affidavit filed in that case, he grabbed a womanās buttocks with both hands at HyVee on East 53rd Street, Davenport.
(Photo by KWQC / Scott County Jail)