A 19-year-old Frederick man has been charged after deputies say he groped a woman who was shopping with her young child at a Guilford Drive Walmart on April 22. Investigators say store surveillance footage helped identify the suspect, and a criminal summons was served late last week. The sheriff’s office says it is still investigating and believes there may be other victims.
What deputies say happened
According to FOX45 News, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office says the man approached the woman in the store and told her she had something on her buttocks. Deputies say he then "brushed and squeezed" her buttocks before walking out of the Walmart.
After reviewing surveillance video that showed the man lingering near the victim before the contact, investigators identified him as Alcides Josuap Carbajal Barahona, 19, of Frederick, according to the sheriff’s description cited by FOX45 News. The sheriff’s office says a criminal summons charging him with second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense was served on April 27.
Charges and local coverage
FOX45 News reported that the outlet published the sheriff’s description of the incident along with surveillance images from inside the store. According to that coverage, investigators are still looking to speak with anyone who may have had a similar encounter at the Guilford Drive Walmart.
As of the time of the sheriff’s public statement, court filings and a formal arraignment date had not yet appeared in publicly available records, according to the same FOX45 News report.
Investigators seek other possible victims
Deputies say there is a possibility the suspect engaged in similar behavior and are asking anyone with information or surveillance video from the store to contact the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office at 301-600-1046 or the tip line at 301-600-4131, according to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. Tips could help investigators determine whether there are additional victims and whether there is a pattern of behavior.
Officials have not released more details about any other potential incidents and have not publicly confirmed whether any additional reports have been filed.
Legal backdrop
Under Maryland law, assault in the second degree is codified in Maryland Code §3-203 and can carry significant penalties. Sexual contact without consent is covered under Maryland Code §3-308, which classifies a fourth-degree sexual offense as a misdemeanor in many cases. Any actual penalties, along with possible enhancements tied to prior convictions, will be determined through the prosecution process and the courts.
Frederick County deputies released surveillance stills as part of their announcement, and both the sheriff’s office and local television coverage have provided the details available so far. Hoodline will update this report as investigators or court records disclose new information.
