A Mineola man was arrested for sexual abuse, child endangerment and inappropriate touching at the Mineola Street Fair Sunday.
According to Nassau County police, Peter Koonanikal, 56, approached a 14-year-old girl and grabbed her inappropriately while she was walking at the street fair. The victim took a picture of the man, who then walked away. The girl quickly alerted her parent, who located Koonanikal and then observed him inappropriately grabbing a 12-year-old female victim.
Koonaikal is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of child endangerment and two counts of forcible touching.
According to Newsday, the defendant had an arraignment hearing Monday in First District Court in Hempstead where bail was set at $30,000 bond or $15,000 cash. The next court appearance for Koonanikal, whose lawyer is Steven Gaitman of Hempstead, was set for Thursday.
Nassau police are asking anyone who was a victim to contact Third Squad detectives at 516-573-6353.
