St. Croix man accused of assaulting 14-year-old
Published: January 15, 2013
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ST. CROIX - A 42-year-old man made his initial court appearance Monday morning after being charged with a single count of first-degree unlawful sexual contact.
Elsworth London of Golden Rock apartments was advised of his rights by Magistrate Judge Miguel Camacho after being arrested during the weekend.
At the hearing, Camacho advised London that if he is tried and convicted on the charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
The charges stem from an incident reported to police Jan. 10, in which a 14-year-old girl told police that London had tried to have sex with her.
According to court documents filed in V.I. Superior Court, the girl told police she was at the house talking on her cell phone when London approached and began rubbing her legs.
She said he was acting strangely, so she moved away from him.
He then became more aggressive and ran his hand down her back to her buttocks and then touched her vagina through her clothes, according to court documents.
The girl told policed she tried to get away, and London wrapped his legs around hers, but she was able to run away and locked herself in the bathroom, where she sent text messages to family and friends, saying he was trying to rape her.
A family member called police, who went to the apartment, and London came to the door wearing a T-shirt and no underwear, according to the police report.
Police found the girl unharmed inside the home.
London told police during an interview that he had consumed a few alcoholic beverages but had not touched the girl, according to police. He also said that did not expect the girl to lie about something that serious, but that he did not remember, police said. He told police that he had the drinks and came home and fell asleep and was awakened when the police came to the door.
Camacho set London's bail at $10,000.
Assistant Public Defender Hanibal O'Bryan made a motion to the court, asking that London be released to the third-party custody of his parents after they agreed that they would post their home, valued at more than $65,000 to satisfy his bail amount.
London was ordered not to have any contact with the girl, not to leave the territory and to maintain contact with his attorney while the case is pending.
- Contact reporter Fiona Stokes at 714-9149 or email fstokes@dailynews.vi.
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