Man charged with molestation

Aug. 23--A Bartlesville resident is facing two felony counts of lewd molestation after it was reported to the Department of Human Services that he inappropriately touched an eight-year-old child.

Arturo Bustamante Garcia, 74, was arrested Monday after an investigation into a July 30 incident at an apartment in the 1200 block of SE Adams Boulevard.

According the the case's probable cause affidavit, DHS received a report on Aug. 7 that Garcia had sexually molested the young girl. Detectives from the Bartlesville Police Department conducted the investigation.

During a forensic interview, the victim reported Garcia touched her private area on the outside of her clothes while they were watching television. The child also reportedly told the investigators that Garcia took her to the bathroom and made her touch his genitalia.

Bartlesville police interviewed Garcia, where he denied the allegations.

According to the police report, Garcia said he may have accidently touched her private parts with his elbow while watching television. He said he then went to take a shower and was fully nude when the victim walked in, saw him and froze. Garcia said he went over and picked her up and pulled her close to his chest. He said her hand "may" have touched his genitalia, but "he wasn't sure."

According to the probable cause affidavit, Garcia was alone with the victim for approximately two to three hours. Police said evidence at the scene indicate that the bathroom door was not in the condition that Garcia said it was, and it matched the description that the victim provided.

Garcia appeared in Washington County District Court Wednesday. His bail was set at $30,000 with a condition of no contact with the victim. His next court date is Sept. 6.

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