LA County authorities have officially charged a man after he allegedly attacked and groped a pre-teen in West Hollywood.
NBC Los Angeles had exclusively reported this week that 42-year-old Elmer Mercado was arrested after he touched a young girl under the age of 14 in the area of Hayvenhurst Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard at around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The girl was walking down the street with her sister, who is also a minor, at the time of the attack, law enforcement sources told NBCLA.
The complaint showed Mercado was charged with two counts of child molestation.
If convicted, Mercado would have to register as a sex offender and turn in his DNA samples.
Mercado, who was previously arrested for a lewd act, touched one of the girls inappropriately, law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles.
Mercado’s at least one prior arrest was pleaded down to a lesser crime, the sources said.