STAMFORD CT March 31 2010
Source:Stamford Advocate -- A 52-year-old Stamford High School security guard arrested Monday on sexual assault charges admitted paying a 15-year-old female student for her underwear, police said.
Pasquale Mecca, of Diaz Street, Stamford, was charged Monday afternoon with fourth-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a minor. He was released on $25,000 bond and is due in court April 12.
An investigation began when the girl's guardian questioned her about having large amounts of cash, said police Lt. James Matheny; the girl said she was paid by Mecca for her underwear.
The exchanges took place on and off school grounds, during school hours and when school was not in session, police said. Mecca allegedly bought the girl's underwear at least three times for varying amounts of money. Police did not disclose how much he paid.
"For a 15-year-old kid it seemed like a lot of money," Matheny said.
Investigators took statements from the girl, her guardian and Mecca, who admitted he bought girl's underwear and had improper physical contact with her on at least one occasion.
Police are urging anyone with information about the allegations or similar, unreported incidents to come forward.
"We have one victim and one case right now, but once these things develop, there's a possibility that we find out more," Matheny said.
Mecca's home was searched by police, who found several items related to the case. Matheny would not disclose the items, but said it was too early to tell whether they would play a role in the investigation.
Mecca was charged with fourth-degree sexual contact because he had improper physical contact with a person under age 18 while he was in a position of authority, not because of the degree of physical contact or whether it was consensual.
The charge is a felony offense when the victim is under 15 years old.
Sarah Arnold, the school district spokeswoman, said Mecca has been suspended from his job and is not allowed on Board of Education property.
His suspension is subject to an investigation by the school district, she said
Mecca became a school district employee in 2001, and worked as a security guard at Stamford High for his entire career except for a year when he worked as a teacher's aide at Scofield Magnet Middle School in 2003.
Mecca has no record of prior discipline at Stamford High, Arnold said.
The investigation is ongoing and police urge anyone with more information to call the Stamford Police Department at 977-4639 or 977-4417.
Pasquale Mecca, of Diaz Street, Stamford, was charged Monday afternoon with fourth-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a minor. He was released on $25,000 bond and is due in court April 12.
An investigation began when the girl's guardian questioned her about having large amounts of cash, said police Lt. James Matheny; the girl said she was paid by Mecca for her underwear.
The exchanges took place on and off school grounds, during school hours and when school was not in session, police said. Mecca allegedly bought the girl's underwear at least three times for varying amounts of money. Police did not disclose how much he paid.
"For a 15-year-old kid it seemed like a lot of money," Matheny said.
Investigators took statements from the girl, her guardian and Mecca, who admitted he bought girl's underwear and had improper physical contact with her on at least one occasion.
Police are urging anyone with information about the allegations or similar, unreported incidents to come forward.
"We have one victim and one case right now, but once these things develop, there's a possibility that we find out more," Matheny said.
Mecca's home was searched by police, who found several items related to the case. Matheny would not disclose the items, but said it was too early to tell whether they would play a role in the investigation.
Mecca was charged with fourth-degree sexual contact because he had improper physical contact with a person under age 18 while he was in a position of authority, not because of the degree of physical contact or whether it was consensual.
The charge is a felony offense when the victim is under 15 years old.
Sarah Arnold, the school district spokeswoman, said Mecca has been suspended from his job and is not allowed on Board of Education property.
His suspension is subject to an investigation by the school district, she said
Mecca became a school district employee in 2001, and worked as a security guard at Stamford High for his entire career except for a year when he worked as a teacher's aide at Scofield Magnet Middle School in 2003.
Mecca has no record of prior discipline at Stamford High, Arnold said.
The investigation is ongoing and police urge anyone with more information to call the Stamford Police Department at 977-4639 or 977-4417.
