Ohio man charged with sexually battering 16-year-old in Gainesville

Nathan Daniel Cooper, 39, of Strasburg, Ohio, was arrested on October 29 for the alleged sexual battery of a 16-year-old girl in Gainesville. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office detained Cooper at a local gas station after detectives tracked his vehicle through automated license plate reader cameras.

According to the arrest report, the victim met Cooper at a billiards bar in Alachua while she was with her sister. Witnesses stated that Cooper was informed the girl was 16 during their initial conversation. Weeks later, the victim reported that Cooper reached out to her via text. She declined his requests for nude photos but agreed to let him pick her up. The victim described his vehicle as a red four-door work truck with three front seats.

The victim stated that Cooper drove her to a Chevron gas station near Oaks Mall, where he purchased a Mike’s Hard Lemonade. They subsequently drove to the parking lot of an abandoned Toys R Us. The victim alleged that Cooper touched her and sexually battered her in the lot before taking her on a walking trail. Her sister told investigators that Cooper was aware of the victim’s age and expressed indifference.

Detectives identified Cooper through a witness who provided his name, employer, and truck tag number. The tag is registered to an Ohio company. During the interview, Cooper initially denied meeting the victim or her sister outside the bar. He later admitted to communicating with them and taking the victim to a gas station. He claimed he only learned her age when she asked why she could not buy her own beer.

Cooper stated he knew it was "not right" to be with the victim and became nervous when a security guard patrolled the mall. He denied engaging in sexual activity, claiming he took her to a park to walk her home because he wanted to leave. Cooper admitted to lying about several details during the interview, including his prior interactions with the girls. He also told detectives he had lied to the victim about being divorced because he wanted attention.

Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered Cooper held without bail pending a hearing on the State Attorney’s Office motion to keep him detained until trial. If the motion is denied, bail will be set at that hearing. Cooper’s criminal history is unavailable because documents for sexual offenses are not publicly posted. The charges are accusations, and Cooper is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.