Lang
8/7/21
A local transient faces charges that he groped a juvenile girl and solicited her for inappropriate pictures before later trying to hide inside a mattress at the Johnson County Jail.
Iowa City Police say 35-year-old Martel Bolden was alone with the girl just after 7:30 Friday night on the 500 block of South Van Buren Street. Bolden allegedly grabbed the girl’s thigh twice and asked her about “booty pics”, then continued trying to grope the girl.
Arriving officers report finding Bolden intoxicated in the alley behind the address. He showed signs of intoxication and refused breath testing. Bolden was arrested and charged with Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse and Public Intoxication.
Around 12:45 Saturday morning Bolden was reportedly intoxicated inside a holding cell at the Johnson County Jail when he allegedly intentionally tore a hole in a mattress and tried to climb inside. The cost of the mattress is estimated at $65.98. Bolden now faces an additional charge of 5th Degree Criminal Mischief.
If convicted on all charges, Bolden faces a maximum of over two years in prison.
