LACEY, Wash. — An elementary school custodian, who is accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl in a grocery store, was ordered held on $75,000 bail Monday in Olympia.
David T. Cristina, 26, who worked an overnight shift in several North Thurston elementary school was twice caught grabbing a girl on store surveillance, according to Thurston County prosecutors. In one instance, police say the girl was grabbed while standing next to her mother.
On Sunday afternoon, Lacey police were called to the Safeway at 1243 Marvin Road Northeast. A woman told police her daughter waited until they left the store to tell her what happened.
Lacey police examined the store's surveillance video and say it shows Cristina approach and reach for the girl twice.
Lacey police wrote this description of the second contact:
"In the second instance, you clearly see the suspect walk approximately 30 feet toward the victim, reach out and grab her buttocks while she is facing away from him.
"The victim is within arm's reach of her mother when the assault occurred."
Lacey police identified Cristina after seeing him use a Safeway discount card to buy beer before leaving the store. When they found him at his residence, they noted he was wearing the same necklace as the man in the surveillance video.
Police say there is no indication the suspect and victim knew each other. The North Thurston School District is notifying parents of students where Cristina worked. According to prosecutors, Cristina has no criminal record.
Teresa Wolf, a mother of three daughters in the area, says this is a teaching moment for both kids and parents.
"This just shows you really have got to teach your children to be aware and to say something, to you, even if it's uncomfortable, it's really important," Wolf said.
Cristina is due back in court on May 24th.
Cox Media Group
