Part 3 from www.mysaline.com/tim-steppach-arrest
Facts and narrative from the report taken by the Benton Police Department:
On the morning of October 31st, 2023, Benton Police Department received a call about a sex crime on the premises of the Tim’s Tavern restaurant, located at 1209 Edison Avenue in Benton.
On January 25, 2024, Benton PD arrested Tim Steppach, age 46, of Benton.
Victim #1: white female age 14, employed at Tim’s Tavern.
Victim #2: white female, age 15, employed at Tim’s Tavern.
Benton Police Officer Zachary Wisenor wrote in the report that he made contact with Katie Steppach and Deborah Roberts at the police department in reference to a sex crime.
Ofc Wisenor wrote all of the report below, except the last paragraph, as noted.
The charges are two counts of Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree, occurring at the restaurant.
The officer reported that he spoke with Katie Steppach who advised she is married to Timothy Steppach, the owner of Tim’s Tavern restaurant. Katie advised she works as the manager of the store but was supposed to be a co-owner. Katie said she never was involved with the business or finances but worked as a manager of the kitchen.
Katie said in early September she was approached by several juvenile employees who said they didn’t feel comfortable around Timothy. The juveniles were REDACTED and REDACTED. Katie asked why they feel this way and Katie was told that Timothy has been grabbing their butts and asking if they’ve had sex before. Katie said she confronted Timothy about this, and he advised that he spoke with the juveniles who said they only had issues with the inappropriate comments/jokes. Katie said Timothy denied all other accusations. Katie said she was unsure if this occurred due to her never seeing Timothy doing anything like this before. Katie advised they continued working as normal until October 19th, 2023. Katie said she caught Timothy staring at another juvenile’s butt, REDACTED, who is employed by them. Katie said this was a deliberate glare, not someone darting at a distance. Katie advised this is when everything clicked, and she spoke with REDACTED and REDACTED again. Katie said she questioned them to ensure that they were not making this up. Katie reported she knew she had to get away from Timothy and spoke with the cook, to see if she could stay the night with him. Overton advised he was okay with her staying the night.
Katie said once this occurred, she confronted Timothy about this. Katie advised that Timothy denied all accusations and then started telling Katie that she was crazy. Katie then advised that Timothy kept on contacting her under the guise that he was checking on her because she was suicidal. Katie told Timothy she wasn’t anything like that and even went to have a psychological test done to prove it.
Katie said she quit her job, moved in with her friend, and is in the process of filing for divorce. Katie said that REDACTED & REDACTED were the juveniles who were working at Tim’s Tavern. Katie said all these individuals quit their jobs following this harassment. Katie was provided an incident number and told to contact the Benton Police Department if she had any more information.
This case was forwarded to the child abuse hotline and accepted for investigation. Both of REDACTED parents were contacted. Interviews were set up with Marissa Amundson with the crimes against children division of Arkansas State Police. I will update this report once those interviews have been completed. (Ofc Wisenor)
On November 3rd, 2023, at approximately 3:38 p.m., REDACTED came in for an interview. This interview was completed by ASP investigator Amundson. I was present at the time of the interview as well as an investigator trainee by the name of Kyle. During this investigation and interview, Amundson asked all the questions. (Ofc Wisenor)
During this interview, REDACTED was asked why she was there. REDACTED said, “he was touching us inappropriately at work.” This statement was clarified, and REDACTED said that Timothy was the one who was doing this. REDACTED also said that she and REDACTED were the ones being touched. REDACTED reported she began working there for a while but could not disclose a date at this time. Amundson asked what REDACTED meant by touching her inappropriately, for clarification on what occurred.
REDACTED advised Timothy to tell her to wear booty shorts and crop tops and said Timothy would touch her butt. REDACTED went on to say that one time she went outside, Timothy approached her and asked where she got her bra from, then proceeded to pull down the back of her shirt to look. REDACTED said during this, she attempted to pull away, but Timothy maintained a grip on her shirt and pulled it down.
REDACTED reported that Timothy would make her go outside with him to check the ribs, and REDACTED said he would try to kiss her every time. REDACTED said every time she would pull away, saying no, she said Timothy would get mad. REDACTED reported one time Timothy did kiss her on the cheek but that was due to her turning at the last minute to not be kissed on the lips.
REDACTED then went on to say that one time she was outside breaking down boxes and was followed outside by Timothy. REDACTED reported that Timothy attempted to hug her but she attempted to nudge past him, and he grabbed her shirt around the collar pulling her close to him. REDACTED said he didn’t let her go at first and eventually he did, and she went inside.
REDACTED reported as she normally stands in the back of the business, Tim would drag his hand across her chest and he would say Uhhhhhh while doing this. REDACTED reported she works as a floater/busser at the business. REDACTED said she would bend over to pull the drain out of the sink and Timothy would smack her butt. REDACTED said this occurred almost every time she worked. REDACTED stated Timothy would call her fine and then he would say uhhhhhh when REDACTED walked past him. REDACTED also reported that Timothy told her that her butt looks good.
REDACTED was asked if anyone observed any of these actions. REDACTED said that REDACTED observed some of these but is unsure what exactly occurred. REDACTED said Timothy normally does most things behind closed doors so no one can see anything.
REDACTED advised that she observed Timothy ask REDACTED where she got her bra and attempted to pull down her shirt. REDACTED said Timothy was unsuccessful due to REDACTED pulling away. REDACTED said this all came to a head when REDACTED hung out one evening and Timothy got brought up. REDACTED said they ended up telling Katie about this incident and that she confronted Timothy. REDACTED confirmed Katie’s recollection of events following her initial report. REDACTED did bring up that Timothy told REDACTED and REDACTED to not tell anyone about what happened and only to come to him to tell him things.
REDACTED said since Katie found out and confronted Timothy, Timothy was has still attempted to kiss and attempted to touch her breasts.
REDACTED said she has not worked there since the 19th of October. REDACTED expressed she would love working there if Katie was involved and Timothy was out of the picture. REDACTED during this REDACTED interview cried and showed resentment of the incident.
PARENT1 was brought in and questioned about this incident. PARENT1 seemed well informed about the incident and it seems that REDACTED disclosed everything that happened to her to PARENT1. PARENT1 confirmed that REDACTED told her Timothy had smacked her butt, tried to kiss her, and ran his hands down her side down to her butt. PARENT1 is unsure of when REDACTED started working at Tim’s Tavern but new it was for at least a couple of months. PARENT1 advised REDACTED was working more than 18 hours on school weeks which she knows was illegal. PARENT1 also said she never received an official paycheck and if she did it would be a personal check from Timothy.
PARENT1 was provided with the incident number and advised to contact the Benton Police Department if she has any questions.
On November 6th, 2023, at approximately 4:15 p.m., I met with REDACTED at the Benton Police Department. There was not a formal interview set up due to REDACTED not being a victim but a witness to the events that occurred. (ofc Wisenor)
REDACTED completed a written statement that has been attached to this report. REDACTED said the first time she witnessed any type of inappropriate actions was on her night of employment which she believes was August 12th, 2023. REDACTED said she witnessed Timothy brushing his palm on REDACTED butt. REDACTED advised Timothy did this several times to all the girls
REDACTED went on to say she would stock beer in the restaurant, hand Timothy beer, or at times deliver it to the table themselves. REDACTED and REDACTED would pour draft beer. REDACTED also reported that she would check out tables with beer and clean off beer bottles. REDACTED reported after 2 months of employment she never received a single paycheck, nor did she fill out any tax forms. REDACTED said Timothy would make comments such as “you look pretty” and “if you wore that you would make great tips.” The comment about the tips was when REDACTED came in a dress for homecoming to show Katie her dress according to REDACTED.
I spoke with PARENT2 who advised she had no idea on what was occurring until after REDACTED quit. PARENT2 advised she did not know that REDACTED was not paid, served alcohol, and how she was treated. PARENT2 was provided with an incident number in reference to this case.
On November 3rd, 2023, at approximately 4:07 p.m. REDACTED came in for an interview. This interview was completed by ASP investigator Amundson. I was present at the time of the interview as well as an investigator trainee by the name of Kyle. During this investigation and interview, Amundson asked all the questions.
During this interview, REDACTED was asked why she was there. REDACTED said when she started working at Tim’s Tavern, everything was normal. REDACTED said that Tim would compliment her telling her how pretty and beautiful she was. REDACTED said she just brushed it off because she thought it was Tim being nice. REDACTED then went on to say that in the back of her mind, she felt like something was wrong. REDACTED said this was compounded due to an incident where Tim would stand behind her and “accidentally” touch her butt.
REDACTED went on to say that Tim while working for him was teaching her how to stock the beer cooler. REDACTED said during this Tim asked her age and then followed her response with the question if she had ever had sex. REDACTED said she said what? And Timothy asked her again if she had had sex. REDACTED said she did not answer and changed the subject. REDACTED went on to say that Timothy once again while in the beer cooler, asked REDACTED what kind of underwear she wears. REDACTED said that Timothy also asked what kind of bra she was wearing because it looked sporty. REDACTED said Timothy went on to ask where she bought it and what size it was. REDACTED also reported that Timothy would come from behind her numerous times and grab right above her hips and squeeze multiple times. REDACTED also reported that Timothy would refer to her as a good girl numerous times. REDACTED said when Timothy touched her butt, he would pat it two times.
REDACTED said she spoke with REDACTED about these incidents. REDACTED said they came up with a plan to tell Katie. REDACTED said Katie confronted Timothy about the aforementioned actions. REDACTED said Katie and Timothy began arguing and she went into the back office with REDACTED. REDACTED reported Timothy came inside and began yelling at her and REDACTED and denying anything that occurred.
REDACTED said that after Katie confronted Timothy about these incidents, he acted normal for a week or two. REDACTED said that shortly afterward, Timothy began doing the same things again.
REDACTED reported that she observed Timothy standing behind REDACTED while she was working in the sink. REDACTED stated that Timothy stood right behind her, and it was weird. REDACTED reported she observed Timothy touch REDACTED butt as well. REDACTED went on to say that Timothy would mess with REDACTED bra straps. REDACTED reported that REDACTED was also asked what kind of bra she was wearing.
REDACTED said she started working at Tim’s Tavern in August and stopped around the second week of October. PARENT3 Said she was told about these incidents by REDACTED but was begged not to say anything because she was told Katie was handling it. PARENT3 said if anything else occurred REDACTED was supposed to tell her and she would stop working for Tim immediately. PARENT3 Said she received a call from REDACTED in October when Timothy and Katie were fighting, and she went up to Tim’s Tavern, PARENT3 said she went inside to speak with Tim before she told Timothy that she was not working there anymore. PARENT3 was provided with the incident number and advised to contact the Benton Police Department if she had any questions.
On November 27th, 2023, a review file was completed and submitted to the prosecutor’s office, according to the police narrative.
On November 29th, 2023, at approximately 12:00 p.m., I made contact with Timothy Steppach by phone in reference to this case. I asked if he would be willing to speak to me about this case. Timothy advised he would speak to his attorney in reference to this.
Officer James Wills: On January 25th, 2024 at approximately 10:50 a.m., officer Walker Brown and I located Mr. Steppach at the Tim’s Tavern restaurant on Edison. Officer Brown and I made contact with Steppach and advised him of the two warrants that he had, and placed him under arrest. I transported Steppach to the Saline County jail where he was booked and processed.
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