A Charleston man allegedly showed a 5-year-old girl a pornographic video and masturbated in front of her in the play area of the Charleston Town Center on Monday.
The man, Victor Ramonte Coltey, 53, also allegedly tried to get the girl to perform oral sex on him, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court. Police said Coltey ejaculated in front of the girl at the play area.
Coltey was arrested on Wednesday. He is charged with use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor, a felony.
Charleston police Lt. Steve Cooper, chief of detectives, said Detective B. Miller recognized Coltey while the detectives were reviewing surveillance footage from the mall.
Detectives went to his home, and Coltey agreed to an interview, Cooper said.
"Once he was confronted with the information and was made aware that we had video, he did confess to the crime," Cooper said.
The man spent a couple of hours in the play area, according to Cooper.
"He had a small child with him," Cooper said. "He was able to blend in without arousing suspicion due to the fact he had a small child with him."
Coltey said during his arraignment that he and his wife do have custody of a 3-year-old child.
The victim was in the care of her grandmother, according to Cooper. When asked how Coltey was able to evade detection, Cooper said he didn't know.
No witnesses saw the alleged crime occur. Cooper said the video surveillance was crucial to the investigation.
"If it weren't for the cameras in the Charleston Town Center, we wouldn't have caught this guy," he said.
Police were executing a search warrant at Coltey's home Wednesday afternoon.
"We have confiscated a device we believe was used during the commission of this crime and will be analyzing that, also physical evidence that was recovered at the scene," Cooper said.
Cooper said that the brazenness of the crime was rare, but not the crime itself. About one in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday, according to a 2013 Darkness to Light study. Darkness to Light is a leading child sexual abuse prevention organization.
"When you're dealing with being in a public place and you and your child are alone around strangers, you should be vigilant as to your surroundings, but most cases of child molestation are committed by friends and family, so use common sense when you're raising children," Cooper said. "Be careful who they spend the night with. Watch for signs of behavior changes and if you have any suspicions, talk to your kids. Ask them pertinent questions in a way that they can relate to their parents."
The incident was also uncommon because the crime was reported.
"Children are more likely to notify an adult if they are accosted by a stranger than if they are molested by a friend or family member," Cooper said. "Most sexual abuse occurs at the hands of someone who has a relationship with the victim, which is one reason it goes under reported. The victims may feel conflicted about getting someone that they have a relationship with in trouble."
Coltey was charged with obstructing an officer in August of 2004, according to records at Kanawha Magistrate Court. Assistant Kanawha County Prosecutor Maryclaire Akers also said during the arraignment that Coltey had previous arrests for indecent exposure.
Coltey said during his arraignment that he "was" working for C&H Taxi.
Magistrate Brent Hall set a $200,000 cash-only bail. Coltey's preliminary hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 18.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazette.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.