A New Jersey man is facing criminal charges for allegedly groping a 14-year-old girl while dressed as Elmo in Times Square.
Inocente Andrade-Pacheco, 54, was arrested Sunday evening when the teenager tourist said the costume-clad man grabbed her buttocks after she posed for a photo with him and her parents.
Andrade-Pacheco was charged with forcible touching and acting in a manner injurious to a child. Appearing in court for his arraignment that same night, he claimed through his attorney that he was innocent of the crime.
President of the Times Square Alliance, Timothy Tompkins, said there has been a number of recent incidents involving inappropriate touching at the tourist destination.
“The police are doing what they can, but we think there’s a need for some additional regulations or legislation, and we know the City Council is working on that,” Tompkins said.
Prosecutors requested $7,500 bail and Andrade-Pacheco was released on his own recognizance.
His lawyer pointed out that the man had no prior convictions and deep ties to Passaic, New Jersey, where he lives.
