A postal worker who allegedly attacked an 11-year-old girl after she laughed at him when the mail carrier entered the wrong park restroom pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two misdemeanor counts.
Daniel Villasenor, 55, was charged with cruelty to a child and assault on park property, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.
Villasenor was arraigned Wednesday and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for March 5.
Villasenor was arrested after his encounter Monday with two girls at Bristow Park. He mistakenly entered the women's restroom before coming back out and entering the men's room, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Two girls at the park began laughing and "taunting" him, according to investigators.
"It appears that he lost his temper," said Sgt. Dan Scott, of the LA County Sheriff's Department.
Villasenor allegedly pushed one of the girls and grabbed her by the shirt collar. He "began choking her inside a supply room adjacent to the restroom before two city workers told him to stop," according to a statement from the district attorney's office.
Villasenor was in his postal carrier vehicle when he was arrested near the park, according to the sheriff's department.
The attack was captured on surveillance camera video. The sheriff's department has not released the video.
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No one answered the door when NBC4 visited Villasenor's home Tuesday night. Villasenor is a 30-year employee with no history of problems, according to U.S. Postal Service officials.
He is on emergency non-duty status, said Richard Maher, Postal Service spokesman.
"It is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service," said Maher.
Bond was set at $100,000. If convicted, Villasenor faces up to one year in jail.
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