New Britain

Man Accused of Harboring, Sexually Assaulting 12-Year-Old Girl in New Britain

New Britain Police have arrested a 21-year-old man who is accused of harboring a 12-year-old girl for several days and sexually assaulting her.

Police said Carlos Emanuel Padilla, of New Britain, was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a child on Monday.

In October of 2018, police said Padilla was reportedly harboring the child, who had been reported missing.

“Initially, he was not forthcoming and said he didn’t know where the child was," explained Captain Jeanette Portalatin of the New Britain Police Department.

The girl’s family told police she ran away from home. Officers allegedly found her in Padilla’s apartment three days later. Although he was initially arrested and charged with risk of injury to a child, it took three months for police to gather evidence that the pair were physically involved.

“The two were having a sexual relationship that started months prior to the child going missing," Portalatin said.

Investigators later determined that Padilla and the victim were engaged in a sexual relationship for several months prior to her going missing, which is why they issued a warrant for the charges of sexual assault and risk of injury to a child.

Padilla, who police said is currently incarcerated, was charged in court with the new arrest and was arraigned on Monday. He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court later this month.

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