ST. LOUIS — A man from Fairview Heights, Illinois, admitted in court on Friday to sexually assaulting a woman at Gateway Arch National Park in 2023.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Missouri, Monte Derrell Boatman, 37, assaulted the victim on Dec. 6, 2023, around 5:30 p.m. after allegedly grabbing the victim from behind and forcing her into the bushes.

Boatman was caught on camera after he had taken Metro Transit from Fairview Heights and exited at Laclede’s Landing around 5:15 p.m. He was later captured on surveillance video passing the victim near 4th Street and Washington Avenue and began following her a few minutes later.

Boatman allegedly grabbed the woman from behind, wrapped his arms around her, and, with a razor to her neck, forced her into bushes. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Boatman threatened her life multiple times while assaulting her.

Two days later, Boatman was arrested by rangers with the National Park Service. The rangers struggled to arrest Boatman, which led one ranger to seek medical treatment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Boatman had an active arrest warrant for violating probation in a 2009 armed robbery case.

Boatman pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated sexual abuse and 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.