WEST COVINA >> A La Puente man pleaded not guilty this week to an allegation that he groped an 8-year-old girl who became separated from her mother at a West Covina pharmacy, authorities said.
Cresencio Flores Cardenas, 47, denied a felony charge of committing a lewd act on a child Tuesday during an arraignment hearing in Pomona Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said.
The charge stems from an incident that took place about 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at a CVS store at 3670 S. Nogales Street, according to West Covina police spokesman Rudy Lopez.
“The suspect, who was inside the store, approached the victim who at the time was separated from her mother,” Lopez said in a written statement. “The suspect then touched the victim inappropriately below the waist from behind and then walked away.”
The girl told her mother, who contacted police.
The victim quickly notified her mother who then called West Covina police. Officers soon found the suspect — later identified as Cardenas — several blocks away.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Cardenas was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending his next court appearance, scheduled March 23 in Pomona Superior Court.

PHOTO of suspect Cresencio Cardenas courtesy of the West Covina Police Department