Teen charged with sexual battery at Augusta Dollar General

Authorities say 17-year-old suspect followed victim in store and inappropriately touched her.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:23pm

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A 17-year-old has been charged with sexual battery after allegedly following a female victim into an Augusta Dollar General store, pushing her against a shelf, forcibly kissing her, and placing his hand in her pants, according to a police report. Authorities say video footage showed the suspect following the victim in the store, but did not capture the alleged incident itself.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issue of sexual assault and harassment, especially involving minors, that can occur in public retail settings. It raises concerns about safety and security measures in stores to protect customers, as well as the need for greater community awareness and education around consent and inappropriate behavior.

The details

According to the police report, the 17-year-old victim entered the Dollar General store alone on March 26 when she was approached by the suspect, identified as 17-year-old Antonio Durham. Durham allegedly asked the victim for her Instagram and claimed he was 20 years old, before leading her to another aisle and physically assaulting her.

  • The incident occurred on March 26 at the Dollar General store on Peach Orchard Road in Augusta.
  • Durham was arrested on March 31 and charged with sexual battery.

The players

Antonio Durham

A 17-year-old suspect who was charged with sexual battery after allegedly assaulting a female victim inside an Augusta Dollar General store.

The 17-year-old victim

The female victim who was allegedly followed, pushed against a shelf, forcibly kissed, and inappropriately touched by the suspect inside the store.

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What they’re saying

“We must do more to protect customers, especially minors, from sexual harassment and assault in public retail spaces.”

— Samantha Wilkins, Augusta community activist

What’s next

Durham is scheduled to appear in court next week, where a judge will determine if he will be released on bail pending trial.

The takeaway

This disturbing incident underscores the need for heightened security, employee training, and public awareness campaigns to prevent sexual violence in retail environments and keep all customers, regardless of age, safe from harm.