20-year-old arrested in Rochester for sexual battery, criminal confinement; two other cases in Fulton and LaPorte counties for sexual battery, sexual misconduct

A 20-year-old was arrested in Rochester on June 2, after he was accused of sexual battery and criminal confinement.

According to court documents, the suspect was also arrested twice this year for similar incidents in January and March and has pending cases in Fulton and LaPorte counties. 

According to the probable cause affidavit on June 2, a 60-year-old woman who appeared visibly upset arrived at the Rochester Police Department requesting to speak with an officer about a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at her home on May 30. The woman stated that prior to the alleged sexual assault her neighbor, 20-year-old Joe W. Teller, of Rochester, and his girlfriend had visited the victim's residence. Shortly after the couple left the residence the woman stated Teller returned, knocking on the woman's door and claimed to have forgotten something.The victim was told Teller's girlfriend had left for the night to stay at a family member's house and said he was staying home alone for the evening. 

The victim stated she had initially allowed Teller to reenter her home. Once alone in the residence, however, the victim claimed Teller began making sexual advances towards her. When the woman asked Teller to leave she said he began to get more aggressive, cornering her and touching her chest without consent. As the alleged unwanted advances continued the woman stated she became more fearful and attempted to escape the residence but was unable to due to Teller blocking the doorway and physically preventing the victim from leaving her residence. The victim stated she had repeatedly told Teller no and asked him to leave her residence multiple times.

According to reports, Teller allegedly confessed to the woman that he would be going to jail in the future anyways and that he had sexual fantasies about older women. The victim stated Teller also touched her chest without consent multiple times. 

The victim told officers she waited until the suspect was not looking to grab her phone and text Teller's girlfriend to come get him. The woman stated she had texted the girlfriend instead of calling her due to fear of Teller hearing her. The woman stated when the girlfriend called Teller and instructed him to leave the victim's home he left. The girlfriend had also allegedly called the victim later that evening to apologize about Teller's behavior, blaming alcohol as the reason for the sexual advances. Investigating officers reported call logs and texts from the victim's phone had confirmed the texts and calls from Teller's girlfriend that evening. 

The woman told officers at the time of the alleged assault she did not believe Teller had been under the influence of alcohol and claimed she thought he had seemed fixated over sexual fantasies. She further added Teller had also told her he had fantasies about young girls. The victim stated the incident left her feeling fearful and violated. She reiterated that she had never condoned any sexual advances and wished to press criminal charges against Teller. 

Teller and his girlfriend were later located at his residence. Officers reported Teller initially denied accusations about any sexual advances made towards the victim, but did admit he visited the residence and considered the woman to be his friend. 

Teller and his girlfriend told officers the woman had been known to smoke marijuana, insinuating the drug could be a possible explanation for her accusations. It had been noted by the officer interviewing the victim at the Police Department, however, that the woman did not appear to be under the effects of cannabis use at the time she gave her statement. 

Teller later changed the story, telling officers that the woman had given him alcohol while he and his girlfriend visited her residence. According to reports he claimed to have been thirsty, chugging a beverage before knowing it contained alcohol, therefore becoming drunk/buzzed. He still claimed to remember everything that went on during the evening of May 30, however. Teller admitted to officers he did make some sexual advances towards the woman, but that he did so very respectfully because she was an old woman. Teller admitted that the woman denied his propositions. Teller claimed he never would have behaved like this, but the alcohol she provided to him had caused him to have poor judgement. 

Teller acknowledge that his words and actions probably made the woman feel unsafe and scared, but denied ever physically touching her or being asked to leave. Teller told officers he believed the victim was making up accusations against him because she did not like his girlfriend's grandmother. Officers reported he also admitted to being addicted to sex and needing therapy to help control his sexual urges.

Teller was arrested and taken to the Fulton County Detention Center on charges of sexual battery and Criminal Confinement. It was noted that Teller also has pending cases from earlier this year in Fulton County for a sexual battery, a Level 6 felony; and in La Porte County for sexual misconduct, a Level 6 felony.