by Jerry Burke
Fifth Squad detectives report that the man, identified as 44-year-old West Hempstead resident Victor Acosta, allegedly approached the pair in the Pathmark supermarket, located in the Cherry Valley shopping center, at about 6 p.m. Sunday night.
Police say that when the 39-year-old mother bent over to pick up an item on a lower shelf, Acosta grabbed her buttocks. The women, understandably shocked, pulled her daughter close to her and began to flee her attacker.
According to Det. Sgt. Robert Galgano of the Fifth Squad, Acosta then lunged at the 12-year-old girl as the pair attempted to leave the aisle. Galgano said Acosta managed to grab the girl's buttocks as well.
The pair got away and immediately notified a store employee. As word of the assault spread to other store employees, Acosta allegedly ran out of the store.
One alert employee tailed the suspect and managed to record the license plate number of the suspect's car.
Police quickly traced the plate number and arrested Acosta at his home on Colony Street a short time later.
Acosta currently faces two misdemeanor counts, one count of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse.
Acosta could not be reached for comment. An arraignment hearing is set for July 11.
