Syrian refugee accused of assaulting 13-year-old girl at Massachusetts pool - TomoNews
- 8 years ago
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS — A 22-year-old Syrian refugee is in the slammer after he was accused last Thursday of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl at a swimming pool.
Emad Hasso was ordered to be held on $25,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty through an interpreter to one count of indecent assault and battery on someone under the age of 16 at the Lowell District Court last Friday, according to the Lowell Sun.
Prosecutor Sam Miller said that around 5:30 p.m. on July 7, the girl was at the Raymond Lord Memorial Pool when she said a man came up to her, touched her upper thigh and asked her age.
The girl told him she was too young for him and walked away, Miller said.
Hasso allegedly began to follow the 13-year-old around the pool and approached her again while she was swimming, touching her upper thigh and again asking how old she was.
The girl told him that she was a “little kid, leave me alone,” Miller said.
A lifeguard, who saw some of the interaction between Hasso and the girl, then intervened, Miller said.
Police said the incident may have been filmed on the video security cameras at the pool.
Hasso’s defense attorney William Kittredge said Hasso told him that while he was swimming in the pool he may have “accidentally bumped” the girl, but he denies grabbing the girl or speaking to her.
Hasso is scheduled for a pretrial conference on July 29.
Emad Hasso was ordered to be held on $25,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty through an interpreter to one count of indecent assault and battery on someone under the age of 16 at the Lowell District Court last Friday, according to the Lowell Sun.
Prosecutor Sam Miller said that around 5:30 p.m. on July 7, the girl was at the Raymond Lord Memorial Pool when she said a man came up to her, touched her upper thigh and asked her age.
The girl told him she was too young for him and walked away, Miller said.
Hasso allegedly began to follow the 13-year-old around the pool and approached her again while she was swimming, touching her upper thigh and again asking how old she was.
The girl told him that she was a “little kid, leave me alone,” Miller said.
A lifeguard, who saw some of the interaction between Hasso and the girl, then intervened, Miller said.
Police said the incident may have been filmed on the video security cameras at the pool.
Hasso’s defense attorney William Kittredge said Hasso told him that while he was swimming in the pool he may have “accidentally bumped” the girl, but he denies grabbing the girl or speaking to her.
Hasso is scheduled for a pretrial conference on July 29.