By Gina Martinez
A Brooklyn man is accused of groping four females, including three young girls, in the span of four hours at a Flushing mall, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Harold Henson, 60, has been charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, the DA said.
On May 20, Henson allegedly groped and pressed himself against four females, ranging in age from 8 to 35 at Sky View Shopping Center in Flushing, according to the criminal complaint.
At around 2:45 p.m., Henson allegedly rubbed himself against the buttocks of a 35-year-old woman in front of the Children’s Place store inside Sky View Shopping Center, the complaint said. Fifteen minutes later, Henson entered the Children’s Place store and is accused of grabbing an 8-year-old girl by her waist, pulling her toward him and putting his hands on her buttocks, Brown said.
At around 6 p.m. Henson went into a Chuck E. Cheese arcade and approached another 8-year-old girl as she played a video game. Henson is accused of grabbing her from behind and attempting to turn her around when he said, “Does that feel good?” according to the DA. The girl ran away from the man.
Brown said just moments later, Henson allegedly came up behind an 11-year-old girl who was playing a video game and rubbed himself against her back and buttocks and asked her “Do you like it?”
A security guard at the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant then detained Henson until police arrived and arrested him, Brown said.
“The defendant in this case lingered around a children’s clothing store and video arcade allegedly waiting for a chance to gratify himself by touching a stranger,” Brown said. “A woman and three pre-teen girls were allegedly victimized by the defendant. Let this be a warning to parents and all women to be mindful of their surroundings at all times. The defendant now faces prison time for these alleged acts.”
Henson is awaiting arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on a complaint charging him with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, the DA said. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Reach Gina Martinez by e-mail at gmart
