Jimmy Velasquez Gomez, 44, of Mastic, accused of abusing children in Medford T.J. Maxx
Suffolk County police say a Mastic man inappropriately touched three children, ages 7, 9 and 11, on separate occasions at a T.J. Maxx store in Medford between April 21 and Wednesday. Credit: James Carbone
A Mastic maintenance worker touched three children inappropriately on separate occasions at the Medford T.J. Maxx store, Suffolk County police said.
Jimmy Harry Velasquez Gomez, 44, was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to authorities.
Detectives first looked into the case after he was accused of touching a 9-year-old girl at the store on Wednesday, police said.
Further investigation uncovered two other incidents of inappropriate touching of a 7-year-old on April 21 and an 11-year-old on Sept. 25 at the same T.J. Maxx store, authorities said.
"He claims that he was just passing by in the aisle and brushed along," defense attorney Joseph Hanshe said. "He said he didn't do anything wrong."
Gomez, who is originally from Honduras, has lived in Suffolk County for at least nine years and is a maintenance worker, his lawyer said. He said his client has a minor criminal history.
"They have photographs, but they're not dispositive of the crimes they allege," Hanshe said.
After he was arrested in Central Islip on Saturday, Gomez was arraigned Sunday in First District Court in Riverhead where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was being held on $50,000 bail.
Prosecutors told Hanshe they expect to bring the case before a grand jury this week with the hope Gomez will be indicted on felony charges.
Suffolk police detectives are asking anyone who believes they could have been victimized to contact the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.
Newsday's Janon Fisher contributed to this story.
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