Man tells 11-year-old he loved her and inappropriately touched her: Myrtle Beach report
A 37-year-old man is accused of touching a preteen girl inappropriately and saying he loved her, according to a police report.
Myrtle Beach police charged Juan Jose Rodriguez-Esquivel with committing a lewd act with a child. He was arrested on Sunday and remains in J. Reuben Long Detention Center a bail of slightly more than $26,000.
The victim told police that in late 2009, Rodriguez-Esquivel inappropriately touched her, according to an arrest warrant. The victim was 11 years old when the incident happened.
Rodriguez-Esquivel also held the victim’s hand and told her that he loved her, the warrants state.
It appears that Rodriguez-Esquivel was arrested over the weekend on a DUI charge by the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The lewd act with a child charge does not appear to exist in South Carolina anymore and is now covered by third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Jimmy Richardson, Solicitor for the 15th Judicial District, said if a charge is changed or eliminated, but was active when the crime happened, the suspect would be arrested under the old statue. The charge could be changed to the new statue when prosecutors seek to indict the suspect.
