News

Actions

Man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting sleeping homeless woman

Posted at 9:11 PM, Jun 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-12 21:59:57-04

Robert Bateman, courtesy Kent Co

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A man pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting and robbing a sleeping homeless woman in Grand Rapids.

Robert Bateman, 63, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and unarmed robbery. Court officials say he attacked a homeless woman who was sleeping outside a building in downtown Grand Rapids in October 2016.

Other charges against him, including third- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct and fourth-time habitual offender, were dropped.

Bateman has a history of committing sex crimes. He’s listed on the Michigan sex offender registry for trying to rape someone in 1983 and for trying to have sexual contact with a child under 13 in 2001.

He’s scheduled to be sentenced July 18 at 2 p.m.