By SYDNEY KENT
A former Bluffton McDonald’s employee is facing felony-level charges for prostitution, child solicitation, and sexual battery after he allegedly solicited minor coworkers for sex.
Brian Douglas Digman, 33, was charged with promoting prostitution, a Level 4 felony, child solicitation, a Level 5 felony, and five counts of sexual battery, all Level 6 felonies.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the case was opened after a detective with the Bluffton Police Department spoke with the parent of a teen working at McDonald’s in mid-May.
The parent alleged that Digman had been sending messages to minors who were male, offering money or drugs in exchange for sexual favors. Additional teens came forward with similar claims.
Multiple girls working with Digman told police that he grabbed their breasts or private areas in passing — always claiming it was an accident.
“I am not the only girl this has happened to,” one of the minor victims wrote in her testimony. “Things like groping and touching have been happening since he was hired.”
Digman allegedly offered to pay $200 to one child for various sexual acts. He also reportedly offered to increase the amount of money if the child would guarantee sexual encounters more frequently.
Investigators argued that Digman was well aware of the ages of the victims involved, noting McDonald’s employees under the age of 16 wear a designated red hat at the Bluffton location.
The manager at McDonald’s told police she received a report from a fellow employee regarding the accusations several days prior, noting that Digman was fired.
When questioned by police about the accusations of inappropriate sexual advances, Digman reportedly said, “I don’t even like girls. Why would I touch them like that?”
Digman was served the warrant for these charges while incarcerated at the Wells County Jail on a separate case.
At the end of May, a concerned caller reported a man in a hooded sweatshirt behaving suspiciously near 1500E and 300N in Bluffton. The man was identified as Digman, who had a pending warrant for his arrest due to a probation revocation for a conviction for possession of methamphetamine.
Digman reportedly resisted police when they approached him stumbling in the road. He received additional charges for resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief and failure to use the outside edge of the roadway. All three cases are currently pending in the Wells Superior Court and Circuit Court.
Digman’s initial hearing on this matter is slated for 8 a.m. today in the Wells Circuit Court.
sydney@news-banner.com
