By MARY SELL, Alabama Daily News
Perry Hooper Jr., a former Alabama lawmaker who’s still active in the state Republican Party, allegedly assaulted a woman in a downtown Montgomery restaurant last week.
According to police records, Hooper was leaving Ravello Ristorante, a new high-end eatery, around 8 p.m. Aug. 16 when he approached the woman behind the host stand.
“The suspect grabbed the victim’s breasts and waist while shoving his pelvis against the victim’s backside,” an affidavit filed in Montgomery County District Court says. “He then began kissing her neck before she was able to break free.”
Hooper’s been charged with first degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony.
A warrant for Hooper’s arrest was issued Aug. 19, three days after the alleged attack, according to court records.
He was arrested Tuesday at his Montgomery home and later was released on a $15,000 bond.
Attempts to reach Hooper on Wednesday were not successful.
Alabama Daily News does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault.
Hooper represented a Montgomery district in the Alabama House for about 20 years until 2003. In 2016, he was active in promoting Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in Alabama.
Hooper’s currently on the ALGOP’s Executive Committee, which has the stated goal of building and promoting the party.
“The Alabama Republican Party strongly condemns all forms sexual abuse and sexual assault,” the party said in a written statement. “We are committed to personal rights and public safety. We will be monitoring this situation closely as it makes its way through the judicial process.”
Committee members are elected at the county level, but there is a removal process in the party’s bylaws.
“Members may be removed for malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance, or for support (other than his personal vote) of any candidate for public office opposing a Republican candidate for that office,” according to party rules.
Removal requires a two-thirds vote by committee members.
At the party’s Aug. 13 meeting in Montgomery, Hooper successfully pushed a resolution in support of the U.S. Supreme Court and its recent decisions, including overturning the constitutional right to an abortion and defending a high school football coach’s right to postgame prayers with his team.