MONROE - A Monticello man was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting a pre-teen girl in 2016.
Anthony Daniel Mercado, 18, faces a Class B felony count of first-degree sexual assault of a child, a related Class C felony charge, and two Class I felony counts of exposing genitals to a child.
Mercado was charged after a girl told social workers that Mercado had sexually assaulted her at a Monticello residence between June 1 and Aug. 31 of 2016.
According to a criminal complaint, the girl said she was sleeping when Mercado, genitals exposed, pulled her pants and underwear down and attempted to grope her.
The girl said she yelled and resisted, causing Mercado to retreat and lock himself in a bathroom.
Mercado had not attempted to sexually assault the girl before or after that incident, although the girl said he had, on occasion, watched and touched her and another girl's legs.
When police questioned Mercado, he admitted that everything had happened as the girl described. However, when he said that the girl claimed he had raped her, he said "I did but I didn't."
Mercado said both he and the girl were both fully clothed throughout the incident.
Mercado's initial court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 7. His maximum possible sentence is 68 years in prison.
Anthony Daniel Mercado, 18, faces a Class B felony count of first-degree sexual assault of a child, a related Class C felony charge, and two Class I felony counts of exposing genitals to a child.
Mercado was charged after a girl told social workers that Mercado had sexually assaulted her at a Monticello residence between June 1 and Aug. 31 of 2016.
According to a criminal complaint, the girl said she was sleeping when Mercado, genitals exposed, pulled her pants and underwear down and attempted to grope her.
The girl said she yelled and resisted, causing Mercado to retreat and lock himself in a bathroom.
Mercado had not attempted to sexually assault the girl before or after that incident, although the girl said he had, on occasion, watched and touched her and another girl's legs.
When police questioned Mercado, he admitted that everything had happened as the girl described. However, when he said that the girl claimed he had raped her, he said "I did but I didn't."
Mercado said both he and the girl were both fully clothed throughout the incident.
Mercado's initial court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 7. His maximum possible sentence is 68 years in prison.