Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- A judge on Wednesday granted bond to a man prosecutors say sexually assaulted a fellow employee inside the Mall of Georgia on Nov. 20.

Judge George Hutchinson, sitting in for Judge Karen Beyers, set bail for 20-year-old Jarvis Wiley at $125,000. Assistant District Attorney Carole Cox opposed bond altogether, while Wiley's attorney, Kenneth Sheppard of Atlanta, asked for a bond in the "low five figures."

In the end, Hutchinson compromised.

"It's a high bond and I can't predict the future," said Sheppard. "But his family's going to make all efforts to secure his release pending trial ... we are hoping we will be successful."

If Wiley is able to post bond, Sheppard said, he will not be allowed to contact the alleged victim, a woman believed to be at least an acquaintance, if not a friend.

The two worked at separate kiosks inside the mall.

According to prosecutors, Wiley and the 21-year-old woman agree that they voluntarily went to a mall storage room together and that there was sexual contact between them.

The stories differ, however, regarding consent. The woman said Wiley used force, but not violent force, to coerce her. Wiley contends the two had a flirtatious relationship and that the sex was consensual.

Investigators said during Wiley's preliminary hearing on Dec. 3 that they were reviewing surveillance video that could potentially corroborate his story regarding their relationship.

Gwinnett police Detective Daniel Appleby said security cameras outside the movie theater may have captured Wiley and the alleged victim hanging out together, but that images would need to be enhanced to be sure.

The storage room where the alleged attack occurred is not equipped with working cameras, Appleby said.

Jail records show Wiley was still being held at the Gwinnett County Jail late Wednesday night.