Postal worker accused of choking 11-year-old girl is charged

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The U.S. Postal Service worker accused of chasing and choking an 11-year-old girl after she laughed at him for accidentally entering a women’s restroom at a Commerce park was charged Wednesday, prosecutors said.

Daniel Villasenor, 55, was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon on misdemeanor counts of cruelty to a child and assault on park property, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said. If convicted, he faces up to one year in county jail.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies arrested Villasenor Monday evening after the alleged incident at Bristow Park. Prosecutors said two children taunted Villasenor, who then allegedly chased the girl into the women’s restroom and choked her inside an adjacent supply room before two city workers intervened.

‘Several witnesses saw the postal worker get angry and choke the young girl,’ sheriff’s officials said in a statement.

Villasenor was on duty at the time, officials said.

Villasenor, a Postal Service employee since 1981, has been placed on unpaid leave, Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher said Wednesday. The incident is also being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the agency’s law enforcement authority.

ALSO:

Tour bus crash: Death toll rises to 8 after truck driver dies

U.S. Postal Service customers shrug off Saturday delivery cut

Boy Scouts: Some Californians regret delay in deciding on gay ban

— Kate Mather

Follow Kate Mather on Twitter or Google+.