DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced today that bond has been set for a Westmont man accused fondling a pregnant woman yesterday afternoon as she was waking to work. Keenan Fowlkes, 18 (d.o.b. 5/19/2000) appeared at a bond hearing this morning in front of Judge Jeffrey MacKay who set bond at $50,000 with 10% to apply. Fowlkes has been charged with one count of Aggravated Battery to a Pregnant Woman, a Class 3 Felony.
It is alleged that at approximately 1:15 p.m., January 2, 2019, Fowlkes approached the twenty-eight-year-old woman as she was walking in a strip mall near the intersection of 63rd Street and Fairview Avenue in Westmont. It is alleged that Fowlkes told the woman “I haven’t seen you in the area, you’re pretty” and that when the women told Fowlkes she was pregnant he said “I can help you with your kid” and rubbed her stomach. It is further alleged that when the victim attempted to leave, Fowlkes rubbed the woman’s thigh and genitals, grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her back towards him. The victim was able to free herself from Fowlkes and the Westmont Police Department was contacted. Police officers located Fowlkes at a nearby restaurant shortly thereafter.
“My office has no tolerance whatsoever for the type of actions Mr. Fowlkes has been charged with,” Berlin said. “We will do everything within our power to ensure that no one is subjected to the kind of violent and aggressive behavior alleged in this case. I would like to thank the Westmont Police Department for their quick response in apprehending the defendant. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandria Levan for her efforts in holding Mr. Fowlkes responsible for his alleged actions.”
Fowlkes’s next court appearance is scheduled for February 1, 2019, for arraignment in front of Judge Mackay.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.