A Riverhead barber is facing attempted sexual abuse and criminal solicitation charges after attempting to touch an 11-year-old boy and offering the child money to perform a sexual act on him at his barber shop Monday evening, according to Riverhead Town Police.
Police said the boy and his father were customers at Larry’s Barber Shop, 1352 East Main Street in Riverhead Monday evening. The boy’s father and the barber consumed tequila and became intoxicated, according to the police report. The barber, identified by police as Hilario Hernandez Dela Cruz then attempted to touch the child and offered the boy money to perform a sexual act on him, police said. The child was able to contact his mother and was removed from the premises physically unharmed, police said.
The incident was reported to police on Tuesday, according to the report.
Police said Dela Cruz was arrested on charges of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D felony, Criminal Solicitation in the Third Degree, NYS Pl 100.08, a Class E felony, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. He is being held for arraignment, police said in a press release last night.
The boy’s father was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child. His identity was withheld by police to protect the identity of the victim, police said.
Police urge any additional victims to contact the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500 ext. 312.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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