INDIANAPOLIS (TCN) — A 56-year-old man has been charged with seven counts in connection with three incidents over the summer in which he allegedly touched women’s feet.
WXIN reports that on May 4, Melvin Harney Jr. allegedly got into a parking garage elevator with a female state employee and began touching her heel and putting his hand inside her shoe. She told him to stop, leading him to allegedly tell her she was bleeding and that he was using a cloth on her foot. He then allegedly continued trying to touch her, and she reported the encounter to police.
According to WXIN, the second incident occurred on June 4 when Harney allegedly stopped another female state employee who was on her lunch break. He allegedly bent over and said, “Show me those feet” before touching her foot. He then allegedly asked “Who does your pedicures?” The victim then ran to another government building to get away. Surveillance video from a neighboring building allegedly showed Harney touching her foot and ankle.
The third incident allegedly occurred Aug. 13 in the same parking garage elevator as the first incident, according to WXIN. The victim was walking to her car when Harney allegedly asked her what time it was. After she told him, he allegedly kept following her and eventually got down on his hands and knees behind her to touch her feet. He allegedly told her there was something on her foot, and she ran away. As she did so, Harney allegedly followed her to a restricted-access stairwell and asked her, “Why are you walking so fast?”
WTHR reports that during one of the incidents, Harney allegedly pointed his phone up the skirt of one of the victims to film her.
WXIN reports that an investigation conducted using surveillance footage identified Harney as the suspect. He was detained Sept. 10 when police saw him wearing the same shoes he had on in some of the footage.
According to court documents filed Sep. 17, WXIN reports Harney was charged with seven felony counts including sexual battery, battery, and public voyeurism. He previously served 23 years in prison for sexual battery and was released in early 2026. WXIN reports that Harney is documented as a “sexually violent predator.”
According to WTHR, he was under GPS monitoring at the time of the alleged incidents. Harney allegedly told police when interviewed on Sept. 11 that he touched the victims’ feet to satisfy his sexual needs and that he needs more treatment for his desires.
According to court documents obtained by WKRN, “Harney stated that he finds women’s feet to be very sexy, and to be the most sexually arousing part of the female anatomy for him.”
WKRN reports that Harney is behind bars on a $5,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 6.
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