Arrest made on warrant for sexual assault

Arrest made on warrant for sexual assault News Staff Mon, 07/01/2024 - 3:30 pm Whitehead booked on assault, possession charges

• (ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Zachary Whitehead, 34, of Graham, was arrested Wednesday, June 26 on charges of sexual assault and possession of a controlled substance.

Thomas Wallner editor@grahamleader.com

Following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault from January, Zachary Whitehead was picked up last week on an arrest warrant filed in April by Graham Police Department.

Whitehead, 34, of Graham, was arrested Wednesday, June 26 on charges of sexual assault and possession of a controlled substance.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed Monday, April 29, a GPD officer was dispatched Thursday, Jan. 18 to Graham Regional Medical Center in reference to a sexual assault. The victim reported they were sexually assaulted around 8:18 p.m. by Whitehead at the Best Western hotel in Graham.

The victim had saved the clothes and had not showered. They gave consent for GPD to obtain their clothes at their home, which were retrieved and photographed.

The victim stated they arrived at the hotel at 6:38 p.m. to help clean rooms and assist the maintenance man, identified as Whitehead. After they finished cleaning the rooms, they began to help Whitehead.

While they were in room 303, they were told by Whitehead several tasks they needed to complete which included taking paint off the wall of the shower and removing caulk around the toilet. As they began completing those tasks, they were sexually assaulted by Whitehead.

Upon leaving the room, the victim called their friend who advised them to call their mother and go to the hospital. The victim later left GRMC and went to United Regional Hospital in Wichita Falls to have a Sex­u­al Assault Nurse Exam­in­er (SANE) examination performed.

An interview was conducted Friday, Feb. 2, with the friend who spoke to the victim on the night of the alleged incident.

During the interview, the friend stated the victim had gone to help their mother clean the hotel and described the sexual assault as the victim had told it to them. The friend also described what actions they advised the victim to take on the phone call following the reported assault.

Whitehead was booked into the Young County Jail, where he remained as of Monday, July 1 on bond totaling $82,500.

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