A 44-year-old man of Hispanic origin, identified as Jimmy Harry Velasquez Gómez, was arrested by Suffolk County police, in New Yorkafter being accused of sexually abusing three girls on different dates inside a TJ Maxx store in Medford, Long Island.
According to authorities, the latest incident occurred Wednesday night, when Gómez allegedly touched a 9-year-old girl inside the establishment. He was arrested three days later.
Detectives determined that the defendant had already been involved in two previous incidents at the same store: one in April, when he allegedly groped a 7-year-old girl, and another in September, with an 11-year-old victim.
The defense alleges a “misunderstanding”
Gomez’s defense attorney, Joseph Hanshe, stated Monday that his client denies the allegations and that the facts were misinterpreted.
“He claims he was just passing by in the hallway and just brushed against her.”Hanshe said in a statement. “He said he didn’t do anything wrong.”
The authorities reported that Gomez, a maintenance worker and originally from Honduras, has resided in Suffolk County for about nine years. His immigration status was not immediately clarified.
He faces charges of child sexual abuse
The man was charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three additional counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
Gómez pleaded not guilty and He remains detained on $50,000 bail at the county’s third police station. Prosecutors warned that more charges could be filed as the investigation progresses.
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