Prosecutors in Ohio have detailed a disturbing case where a man allegedly gained access to a locked family restroom by copying a safety signal a mother had established with her young daughter. The incident occurred at a Five Below store in Union Township near South Lebanon, Warren County, on February 6.
Alleged Assault Following a Prearranged Knock
According to court documents and statements from the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, the mother of a six-year-old girl had briefly stepped away from the bathroom to purchase a change of clothes after her daughter had an accident. Before leaving, she instructed her daughter not to open the door unless she heard a specific, prearranged "special knock" for safety.
Prosecutors allege that Robert Kevin DeWeese, 37, was eavesdropping outside the door and overheard this safety protocol. He is accused of mimicking the knock to gain entry to the locked bathroom, where he then sexually assaulted the child.
Swift Response and Arrest
The young victim reportedly screamed so loudly that it caused the suspect to flee the scene immediately. Authorities noted that the girl utilized a technique called the "Lion's Roar," which she learned in Girl Scouts, to yell "stop" at the top of her lungs. Her mother was approximately 40 feet away at the time and quickly returned upon hearing the commotion.
Warren County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched shortly before 3:10 p.m. after the mother called 911 to report the assault. In the emergency call, the mother explained, "My daughter was in the bathroom. She had an accident. I went to see if I could go find her alternate clothing while she was in the bathroom. She says a gentleman knocked on the door and came in and touched her while she was in there, and she yelled help. She yelled for him to stop."
Legal Charges and Prior History
Robert Kevin DeWeese has been indicted by a grand jury on multiple serious charges, including two counts of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, and single counts of kidnapping and abduction. The grand jury also designated him as a sexually violent predator, reflecting the severity of the allegations and his criminal background.
Court records reveal that DeWeese has a lengthy criminal history spanning nearly two decades, with prior sexual offense convictions in several Ohio counties. Notably, he was convicted in Fairfield County in October 2021 for the rape of a child younger than 13. Prosecutors highlighted that he had been released from prison just three days before the alleged assault at the Five Below store, following a parole violation.
Prosecutor's Statement and Bond Details
Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell expressed outrage over the case in a public social media post, questioning the odds of such a timing coincidence. "What are the odds that this happens at the exact time a serial sexual offender is in the store and eavesdropping with his ear to the door of the family bathroom?" Fornshell wrote. He added, "Someone like this should remain permanently separated from society."
During DeWeese's arraignment, Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Nicholson noted that he has no fixed address or employment. He is currently being held at the Warren County Jail on a cash-only bond set at $702,500, with jail records also listing an additional $1 million bond associated with the case. Deputies arrested DeWeese at a relative's home following the incident.
The case has underscored concerns about public safety and the vulnerabilities in seemingly secure situations, as the mother's precautionary measure was tragically exploited. Authorities continue to investigate, and DeWeese awaits further legal proceedings.
