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A Philadelphia man with a prior sexual assault conviction is facing up to two decades in prison after admitting to indecent contact with a teenage coworker at a local fast food restaurant, according to reports.
Ronald J. Norris, 42, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges including indecent assault of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of a minor. The charges stem from an October 2023 incident at a Five Guys restaurant in the Wyncote section of Cheltenham Township.
Under a plea agreement, Norris is expected to receive a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, though a judge must first determine whether he qualifies as a sexually violent predator following an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board.
According to investigators, the victim, a 15-year-old employee, told police Norris was working as a manager when he approached her near the end of her shift. He allegedly hugged her, made comments about asking her on a date, and then directed her to meet him in the bathroom.
Believing the request was work-related, the girl complied. Once inside, Norris asked her to expose herself. When she refused, he lifted her shirt and touched her without consent, according to court documents.
Police said Norris then asked the girl not to tell anyone. She later reported the incident to her mother, who confronted Norris at the restaurant. Authorities allege he made statements during that confrontation admitting to the contact.
Court records show Norris has a previous sexual assault conviction from 2011 in Philadelphia.
He is currently being held without bail and will remain in custody pending sentencing later this year. If designated a sexually violent predator, he would face additional lifetime restrictions, including enhanced supervision and community notification requirements.
