A Marietta man is behind bars after allegedly following a 12-year-old girl home from a Cobb County park and attacking her, authorities said.
Cesar Chavez, 20, was arrested Friday on a host of charges, including three counts each of false imprisonment and child molestation, Cobb jail records show.
The child told Channel 2 Action News she was watching Fourth of July fireworks with her family at Ron Francis Park on Gramling Street when Chavez followed her home and tried to molest her.
According to his arrest warrant, Chavez allegedly held the girl’s hand as she tried to get away and “hugged her very tight” before pinning her against a vehicle and grabbing her from behind.
“He pushed me into the car that’s outside,” she said. “That’s when he grabbed me and he was forcing me to kiss him.”
The alleged attack occurred between 10 p.m. and 11:30 p.m near the park, according to the warrant.
The girl said she tried repeatedly to get free by pushing and shoving the man, who allegedly chased her all the way to her front door and then around the side of her home.
“I tried going through the back window of my house because the door was locked and my mom had the keys,” she said, adding that she screamed until her 10-year-old brother heard her and ran for help.
Chavez ran away after the girl’s brother came outside and was later arrested by Marietta police at a nearby apartment complex, Channel 2 reported.
He was given a $38,720 bond, but the Guatemala native remains held at the Cobb jail for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, records show.
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