Man charged in East High bathroom assault pleads guilty

The man accused of walking into a Wichita East High School girl’s bathroom last fall and groping a student pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of sexual battery.

Guy Harris, 29, will be sentenced on the misdemeanor count and in other criminal cases Sept. 18 before Sedgwick County District Judge David Kaufman. He faces up to a year in jail, or could be placed on probation.

A Crime Stoppers tip led to Harris’ April 20 arrest in connection with the assault at the school, 2301 E. Douglas, on Sept. 9.

Police have said Harris entered the school and followed the 18-year-old female student into a restroom while classes were in session. He asked where the gym was located then groped her as she tried to leave; the student immediately told school staff about the unwanted encounter.

But Harris had left the building by then. Police later identified Harris and asked the public for help finding him.

He was caught after a car chase with Wichita police about seven months later.

The assault prompted security changes at the high school. Now all of the exterior doors are locked during the school day except for one. Before that, most of East’s more than 30 doors were unlocked.

East is the Wichita school district’s oldest and largest high school, serving about 2,300 students.

This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Man charged in East High bathroom assault pleads guilty."