Yesterday, Zachary Dickinson, a 30-year-old man from Anderson Township, faced a judge after being charged with the sexual assault and burglary involving a 79-year-old woman. FOX19 reported that Dickinson's bond was set at $175,000 for the charges, which include aggravated burglary, kidnapping, and gross sexual imposition.
According to Warren County court documents, the incident occurred on August 21 when the woman was targeted while loading groceries into her vehicle at a Deerfield Township Walmart. The WAVE 3 News coverage detailed how Dickinson allegedly watched the woman before following her home, where he assaulted her in her garage in an "inexperienced manner."
WLWT disclosed that during Dickinson's arraignment, Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Hardman recounted how Dickinson "pinned her up against her car and proceeded to engage in sexual contact with her," leading to the victim's cries for help, at which point Dickinson fled. The victim's quick thinking to note a partial license plate number and provide a description of the car was instrumental in triggering a search by authorities using the Flock camera system – a network of license plate-reading cameras that ultimately helped locate Dickinson.
Following the arrest, Vickie L. Brashear, president & CEO of Christian Village Communities, where Dickinson was employed, stated, "Mr. Dickinson worked in the kitchen. He did not work directly with any of our residents." She also confirmed that Dickinson "has been terminated and trespassed from our campus," expressing gratitude for the law enforcement's swift action in a statement obtained by WLWT. Dickinson, also a married father, and defense attorney Dan Getty's request for a bond reduction was not granted by the magistrate.
