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A Target employee in Carmel is facing felony charges after allegedly groping a female trainee multiple times during her very first shift at the store — including allegedly making explicit comments before grabbing her and saying "Now I've touched you inappropriately."
Tyrone Gibson, 27, of Indianapolis, is the Carmel Indiana Target Employee Accused of Sexual Battery of a Trainee on Her First Day of Work who has been charged by the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office with one count of felony sexual battery and one count of misdemeanor battery. A warrant has been issued for his arrest with bond set at $5,000.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the alleged victim began her first day of work at the Target on N. Michigan Road in Carmel on May 6, 2026, with Gibson assigned as her trainer. Around 7 a.m., Gibson allegedly touched her buttocks with a box, causing her to pull away and tell him not to touch her. He allegedly made multiple inappropriate comments about her body throughout the shift. Approximately one hour later, Gibson allegedly grabbed her left breast and said "Now I've touched you inappropriately." The alleged victim shoved him away and immediately reported the conduct to a manager. She spoke with Carmel Police on May 7. Target confirmed to investigators that Gibson was employed on May 6 and had worked the 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. shift.
The factual information above was sourced from local12.com as of July 17, 2026. The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
When an employee is sexually assaulted in the workplace by a coworker or supervisor, victims may have significant civil legal options beyond the criminal process. Legal Herald editor Paul Amess spoke with Indiana sexual abuse attorney Jeff Gibson about the civil legal avenues that may be available to victims of sexual battery occurring in a workplace setting.
Paul Amess: Jeff, when an employee is sexually battered in the workplace by a coworker, what civil legal options may be available to the alleged victim?
Jeff Gibson: Cases involving sexual battery in a workplace setting can give rise to civil claims on multiple fronts. Beyond any action against the individual accused, victims may have grounds to pursue civil claims against the employer. Businesses have a legal obligation to maintain a safe workplace, and when an employee is allegedly sexually assaulted on the job, questions arise about the employer's hiring practices, its workplace safety policies, and how it responded once the alleged conduct was reported. A failure at any of those levels can expose the employer to civil liability.
Paul Amess: In cases where the alleged assault occurred during a victim's very first day of employment and during an official training session, does that affect the employer's potential civil liability?
Jeff Gibson: The circumstances of a first day of employment are particularly significant from a civil standpoint. The employer placed the alleged victim under the direct supervision of the accused in a training capacity, creating a specific duty of care to ensure that training environment was safe. If the employer failed in that duty — whether through inadequate screening of the trainer, failure to supervise, or an inadequate response — those failures are directly relevant to any civil evaluation.
Paul Amess: What would you say to a victim in Indiana who was sexually assaulted in a workplace setting and is considering their legal options?
Jeff Gibson: Please speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Time limits apply to civil claims in Indiana, and acting early gives victims the strongest possible foundation. An initial consultation is completely confidential and free of charge — no victim should have to face this process alone.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of sexual battery or sexual misconduct in a workplace setting in Indiana, you may have the right to pursue civil action and recover financial compensation. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced Indiana sexual abuse attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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