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NORA KOCHYousef F. Malkieh followed the woman to the back of the Price Rite store and assaulted her, police say.
TARPON SPRINGS - A convenience store clerk was arrested Sunday and charged with sexual battery after police investigated a complaint that he raped a female customer the night before.
Yousef F. Malkieh, 33, was being held at the Pinellas County Jail on Monday in lieu of $150,000 bail. He works at Price Rite convenience store, which his family owns, at Klosterman Road and Alt. U.S. 19, police said.
Malkieh, who is also known as Joey or Joe, was closing the store at about midnight on Saturday, police said. The victim appeared at the door and asked if she could make a purchase. Malkieh let her in, followed her to the back of the store and then assaulted her, according to the arrest affidavit. During the assault, the victim protested his advances, according to police. A surveillance tape shows the victim entering the store, and Malkieh and the woman are off camera for more than 15 minutes, police say.
The victim was given a medical exam, according to police. When police interviewed Malkieh, he said that he hugged the victim, accidentally touched her breasts and shoved his hand down her pants. But police say the victim was raped.
Malkieh, who lives at 515 Pinewood Drive in Oldsmar, was arrested at about 11 a.m. Sunday.
Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Nora Koch can be reached at 727 771-4304 or nkoch@sptimes.com