Lynn teen accused of molesting cousin, 12

LYNN – A judge ordered $10,000 cash bail for a 19-year-old city man whose 12-year-old cousin told school officials the defendant got into bed and molested her the previous night.But a public defender said the alleged victim had made similar claims against other men that turned out to be false.”The district attorney’s office has no knowledge of that – we have not had investigations involving this victim before,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Katelyn Giliberti said in response Tuesday in Lynn District Court.Leonardo Garcia-Taveras, 19, of 137 Alley St. #2, was arrested on a warrant for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14; at 1:35 p.m. Monday. He was additionally charged with giving a false name/Social Security Number to police and on a default warrant for trespassing.Garcia-Taveras pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in Lynn District Court Tuesday.A school social worker reported Monday that a student came to the office and said she had been molested the previous night, according to a report by Lynn Police Officer Ryan McDermott.The alleged victim told officials the defendant was staying at her house doing work and climbed into bed behind her the previous night, according to police. Garcia-Taveras then allegedly rubbed his hands under the alleged victim’s shirt while trying to take her pants down. The alleged incident stopped when the alleged victim’s mother come into the apartment, according to the police report.Police said the alleged victim told officials she told her sister – who was also in the bed – that Garcia was touching her just like another relative had in the past. But the sister was allegedly afraid their mother would lose custody of the children if they told anyone about the incident.The child’s mother arrived at the school with the defendant’s mother when informed of the incident, according to police.Police serving the warrant reported Garcia gave officers a false name but his correct birthdate (although telling police he was 17 and born in July 1994) and was carrying his own wallet when arrested.Giliberti requested Garcia be held on $20,000 cash bail and that conditions of release include GPS monitoring. She noted Garcia had defaulted three times on an open trespassing case.But Public Defender Jessica Lee said Garcia “absolutely denied” the allegations. The alleged victim had twice previously made accusations of being molested and they were “not found to be true,” Lee said.She requested Garcia be released on $250 cash bail or personal recognizance, saying he had no record of convictions.Judge David Dunbar Livingston ordered Garcia held on $10,000 cash bail and that conditions of release include GPS monitoring, home confinement and that he stay away/have no contact with the alleged victims or witnesses.The defense immediately filed for a bail review, according to court documents.Garcia is scheduled to return to court April 8.