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Postal Worker Charged In Alleged Child Choking Incident

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A veteran postal worker accused of choking an 11-year-old girl who taunted him has been charged with two misdemeanor counts.

KNX 1070's Margaret Carrero reports Daniel Villasenor was arraigned Wednesday afternoon on one count each of cruelty to a child and assault on park property.

Postal Worker Charged With 2 Misdemeanors In Alleged Child Choking Incident

The 55-year-old was arrested earlier this week after he allegedly choked a child Monday afternoon at a bathroom at Bristow Park in the city of Commerce, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

When deputies from the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station arrived, the young girl told deputies that a postal worker had choked her with his hands for laughing at him when he tried to use the restroom facilities and inadvertently entered the women's restroom.

"He came out, went into the men's [restroom], when he returned, they were still laughing at him," said
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Dan Scott. "He got angry, pushed the 11-year-old child, and then grabbed her by the neck in what appeared to be a choking motion."

Scott said authorities have surveillance video of the incident and several witnesses who heard the girl screaming, one of whom told Villasenor to let the victim go.

The veteran letter carrier was on duty when he allegedly went after the girl, according to U.S. Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher.

"We have taken him off duty and placed him in a non-pay status while the incident is being investigated," said Maher.

Villasenor, of Temple City, has worked for the Postal Service since 1981.

He is being held at the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. His bail has been set at $100,000.

If convicted, he faces up to one year in county jail.

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