HENRY COUNTY, Va. (Romero Report) — A Martinsville man has been charged for allegedly sexually assaulting an employee at a hardware store in Henry County.

On May 12 at around 11:20 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call reporting a sexual assault at Lowe’s Home Improvement on Commonwealth Boulevard.

According to authorities, while the employee was working an individual, later identified as Malvester Penn III, 42, of Independence Drive, approached and started a conversation with them.

Penn then inappropriately touched the employee and made sexual remarks, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

At 4 p.m. on the same day, Penn was arrested and charged with sexual assault and he was trespassed from the business.

He was assigned a $2,000 secured bond in connection with the incident.

The Martinsville Police Department assisted in identifying Penn.

Authorities ask anyone with relevant information to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 638-8751 or Crimestoppers at (276) 632-7463.