McDonald’s manager facing sexual conduct charges

A manager at the Red Wing McDonald’s is facing criminal sexual conduct charges after allegedly touching two juvenile males inappropriately while they were working.

Kimberly Noel Voelker, 43, Hastings, has been charged with two felony counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and one gross misdemeanor count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

According to a court complaint filed in Goodhue County District Court Jan. 7, Voelker touched the boys’ groin areas and buttocks through their clothing while she was working as their shift supervisor.

One boy, who is now 17, reported that Voelker touched his genitals two times last August — once while he was at the fry station and again while he was at the drive-thru window. He added that Voelker also pinched his butt and nipples over the clothing on other occasions, the complaint says.

The boy told police that he didn’t report the incidents right away because “he didn’t want to get in trouble,” the complaint says.

The second boy, now 16, told police that Voelker reached around his waist and grabbed his groin area while he was working at the grill station. In addition, Voelker also made several sexual comments and gestures to the boys, the complaint says.

McDonald’s conducted an internal investigation after the boys’ parents raised concerns about Voelker, the complaint says.

The internal investigation included review of store surveillance cameras, which showed Voelker walking closely behind one of the boys and the boy suddenly jumping or reacting. The tapes also show Voelker making sexual gestures, the complaint says.

In an interview with police, Voelker stated that the two boys are “good kids,” and that she had “probably done” what they had reported.

“I take responsibility for all of this,” the complaint says Voelker told police. “I can’t believe I’m that stupid … I just don’t know when to shut my mouth.”

Voelker was suspended from her position at McDonald’s Sept. 8, the complaint says.

Red Wing McDonald’s managers referred media questions to the Courtesy Corp., which owns the Red Wing restaurant and 50 others in the surrounding area.

Phone calls to the Courtesy Corporation were not immediately returned, and it is not known if Voelker is still employed with McDonald’s.

Voelker was booked into Goodhue County Adult Detention Center on Saturday. She was released according to a court order. Voelker will make her first court appearance Feb. 22.

Each of the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charges carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Tags: crime and courts, red wing, goodhue county, news