Man Arrested After Breaking Into Homes, Sexually Battering Woman

(BLOOMINGTON) – A man was arrested after allegedly breaking into at least two apartments in an off-campus student housing neighborhood in Bloomington Tuesday.

Priest Pendleton

Police arrested 23-year-old Priest Pendleton on charges of burglary of a residence, vehicle theft, and sexual battery.

Police said they found Pendleton hiding under the bed of a woman who he supposedly touched while she was sleeping. The victim told police Priest touched her butt and mouth with his hand.

The woman ended up waking up and running outside to call police.

When officers arrived, Pendleton was found armed with a knife he had taken from the victim’s kitchen.

Police found Pendleton with a set of car keys and the vehicle outside the victim’s home. Police worked with the apartment’s leasing office and found that the vehicle belonged to another person in the complex.

When police went to that apartment, they found a woman who said someone entered her home, stole a wallet and set of car keys from her purse.

Police says Pendleton was able to force the apartment window open and then gain access by either entering through the window or reaching in and opening the door

The victims told police they did not know Pendleton and they weren’t sure why he was in the area. Pendleton had told police he was from Terre Haute and attended Indiana State University. They’re now looking around the area to see if he might be responsible for any other burglaries.