An Ashland man is facing sexual assault charges following a reported incident at the Big Lots Distribution Center last week.
According to information released by State Police in Schuylkill Haven, troopers were called to investigate an assault at the Big Lots Distribution Center in Tremont Twp. back on June 23.
There, a Frackville woman claims she was forced to perform oral sex on a man who entered a bathroom she was cleaning at the time after he didn’t allow her to leave.
Police report the woman was cleaning the upstairs men’s bathroom at the distribution center at around 10 a.m. that morning. That’s when 43-year-old Rickford Lucas, of Ashland, entered the bathroom and asked the woman to perform oral sex on him.
The woman reportedly said “No” multiple times and then tried to walk out of the bathroom.
Lucas allegedly grabbed the woman by the back of the shirt as she tried to get out of the bathroom, preventing her from getting away. That’s when Lucas allegedly forced himself onto the woman, making her perform oral sex by pushing her head onto his penis, police report.
Lucas is charged with a first-degree felony for indecent deviate sexual intercourse and misdemeanors for indecent assault and unlawful restraint. He was arraigned on Monday afternoon before District Judge David Rossi and sent to Schuylkill County Prison, where he remains after being unable to post bail.
Lucas is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on July 6 at 9 a.m.
