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.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department said Friday that it’s seeking additional people who may have been victimized by Mercado.
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.