WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A former normal supervisor at an area vehicle dealerships has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting feminine workers.
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Steve Duran mugshot courtesy Wichita County Jail
Steven Duran, 40, was arrested Thursday, January 27 and is charged with 4 counts of sexual assault, every with a $125,000 bond, for a complete of $500,000. Duran is presently being held on the Wichita County Jail.
Authorities obtained police experiences on December 9, 2021 for incidents occurring all through final 12 months.
One arrest affidavit particulars an incident between Duran and a sufferer in July 2021. The sufferer advised police she was contacted by Duran to fulfill at an area restaurant to fulfill with him and one among her clients to assist shut a sale. When the sufferer advised Duran she had no assembly arrange, Duran insisted she come anyway.
The sufferer advised police she met with Duran and the shopper, and that Duran was performing smug towards the shopper so she went exterior. The sufferer acknowledged Duran adopted her exterior, pushed her behind a door, and put his hand down her pants.
The sufferer acknowledged she later walked to her car to go away. She mentioned Duran advised her to take a seat in his car with him so he might speak to her concerning the gross sales course of. She mentioned she sat with him and when she couldn’t get the steps of the gross sales course of appropriate, Duran turned offended and advised her he might assist. She acknowledged he then leaned over and assaulted her once more. She acknowledged Duran stopped when a passing car handed by and the headlights handed by way of the car.
Authorities spoke with a workers member on the restaurant, who mentioned they noticed Duran and the sufferer collectively and thought it was unusual, as a result of they knew the sufferer and Duran labored collectively and that Duran was married. The workers member mentioned Duran would contact the sufferer on the again and the sufferer appeared uncomfortable with Duran’s contact.
The sufferer mentioned she drove dwelling and satisfied herself to not say something. She mentioned she wanted to maintain the job as a result of she was a single mom and the job allowed her to raised look after her little one. She mentioned her mom was additionally battling an sickness and the job allowed her to assist her mom along with her payments.
A second affidavit particulars an assault from August 2021 by which the sufferer mentioned Duran advised her to fulfill him at a non-public membership in Wichita Falls to go over the gross sales course of. The sufferer mentioned Duran had already been consuming alcohol when she arrived. She acknowledged Duran made her uncomfortable by wanting by way of her cellphone, however one other supervisor arrived.
The sufferer advised police she tried to go away when the opposite supervisor left, however Duran advised her it might be impolite for her to go away earlier than he paid the invoice. After the invoice was paid, Duran walked with the sufferer as she left. The sufferer mentioned her automobile was parked near Duran’s.
The affidavit mentioned the sufferer advised police Duran compelled her into the backseat of his car. The sufferer mentioned she tried to inform him “no” however he slapped her very laborious throughout the face, inflicting her ache and worry. She acknowledged she then stopped struggling and Duran forcibly assaulted her.
A 3rd affidavit particulars an assault that occurred in June 2021 at an condominium within the 4800 block of Brookdale Drive in Wichita Falls.
Based on the affidavit, a sufferer acknowledged she had kittens she was looking for properties for and Duran confirmed an curiosity within the kittens. She mentioned she provided to convey the kittens to work however Duran insisted on coming to the condominium. She mentioned when Duran arrived she tried to convey the kittens out to Duran, however he talked his manner into the condominium.
The sufferer advised authorities after she confirmed Duran the kittens, he continued to linger. She mentioned she felt uncomfortable and tried to get Duran to go away, however he refused. The sufferer mentioned as soon as they had been alone, Duran compelled her onto her mattress and compelled his hand down her pants.
The sufferer mentioned a buddy referred to as her cellphone and advised her to come back exterior. She acknowledged she was afraid to battle Duran, so she used the cellphone name as a possibility to get away. She mentioned she left with a buddy.
The sufferer mentioned Duran apologized to her the following day and mentioned he had been intoxicated.
The sufferer mentioned Duran would threaten to drug check her any time she tried to withstand him. She mentioned she understood this as a menace to be fired and he or she wanted the job to pay her payments.
A fourth affidavit particulars an assault that additionally occurred in June 2021 at a gasoline station in Wichita Falls. The sufferer advised police she was on the gasoline station utilized by the dealership to refill automobiles for the enterprise. She mentioned she took the cardboard to Duran, and after he stuffed up he requested her to get within the automobile with him to speak about gross sales offers he had arising.
The sufferer mentioned as Duran drove round he started to fondle her and assault her.
The sufferer mentioned just a few days later Duran apologized to her and mentioned he had been intoxicated.
The sufferer mentioned when she was employed on the auto dealership at which Duran was the final supervisor, she failed her drug check. Duran advised her she would nonetheless be employed however must undergo a drug check on three events within the first 12 months of her employment.
Based on the arrest affidavits, Duran used his place as a normal supervisor on the automobile lot to sexually assault feminine workers.
The affidavits state Duran would determine susceptible feminine workers and start complimenting them, finally telling them how he might assist them do their job higher. Duran would discover an excuse to fulfill the victims off property and sexually assault them.
Based on the affidavits, Duran would later apologize to the victims and blame his conduct on being intoxicated. The victims didn’t instantly report the incidents out of worry of being fired.
As of Friday afternoon, January 28, Duran’s lawyer had already filed for a habeas listening to to decrease his bond, however no ruling has been made.