photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

The Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center is pictured in March of 2022. The center houses the Douglas County District Court and other county services.

A Lawrence fast-food manager committed sex crimes against a 15-year-old employee, according to allegations in a newly released affidavit in the case.

The man, Stephen Tyler Wampler, 27, has been charged in Douglas County District Court with two felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, one felony count of furnishing alcohol to a minor with intent to commit a crime, and one misdemeanor count of contributing to a minor’s misconduct, according to charging documents.

In a sworn police affidavit that sets out probable cause for arrest, a girl accused Wampler of having sexual contact with her, including in the freezer of the Lawrence Burger King where the two of them worked in July.

The girl told police in an interview in October that she went to police after she told Wampler that she no longer wanted to have a physical relationship with him, but Wampler continued to flirt with her at work and to schedule her for duties where the two would be alone together, according to the affidavit. She told police she did not know how to stop Wampler’s advances.

The girl said Wampler told her not to tell anyone about their sexual relationship because he could go to jail and no one would be there to care for his three children.

The affidavit alleges that Wampler and the girl had intercourse once after work when the girl had told her parents she was working an extra shift; on another occasion the girl and her friend were looking for something to do and messaged Wampler, who she said offered them alcohol and marijuana.

The girl and her friend visited Wampler’s residence, smoked, drank pink lemonade vodka and watched a movie, while other people were present in the home. The girl said Wampler insisted that they go into the bathroom and have sex, according to the affidavit.

During the girl’s police interview, the officer conducting the interview recorded a call between the girl and Wampler, unbeknown to Wampler, in which he allegedly admitted to having sex with the girl and providing her with marijuana and alcohol. On the call, Wampler reportedly told the girl he had already told his friends and family what to say if police ever questioned them about his relationship with her.

When questioned in person by police on Nov. 1, Wampler denied having any sexual contact with the girl or giving any alcohol or marijuana, but Wampler did tell them he had hugged her while at work and had given the girl a nicotine vape cartridge, according to the affidavit.

As previously reported by the Journal-World, Wampler was arrested later that day in the 1100 block of North Third Street in Lawrence, according to the Douglas County Jail’s booking log.

Wampler is represented by defense attorney Dakota Loomis. He was released on a $75,000 surety bond on Nov. 15, and is next scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 7 for a scheduling conference, according to court records.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has declined to release Wampler’s booking photo.