Fairview Heights man admits sexual assault on Gateway Arch grounds

A Fairview Heights man on Friday admitted sexually assaulting a woman in Gateway Arch National Park in 2023.

Monte Derrell Boatman, 37, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of aggravated sexual abuse.

According to court records, Boatman took the Metrolink from Fairview Heights and exited at Laclede’s Landing at about 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2023. He was captured on video passing the victim near 4th Street and Washington Avenue a short time later and was then seen again trailing another victim.

Boatman later grabbed the victim from behind, wrapped his arms around her and then, with a razor to her neck, forced her into the bushes, where he assaulted her while threatening her life multiple times, the criminal complaint states.

Boatman was arrested two days later by rangers with the National Park Service after a struggle that resulted in one ranger seeking medical treatment. At the time, Boatman had an active arrest warrant for violating his probation in a 2009 armed robbery case in the Southern District of Illinois, court records show.

Boatman is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12. The sexual abuse charge is punishable by up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. Both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Boatman’s lawyer have agreed to recommend a sentence of 28 years in prison to be followed by supervised release for life.

The case was investigated by the National Park Service and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.