Erick Alezndro Hernandez Tellez (PHOTO: Henrico Police)
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Virginia made national headlines in 2008 when state lawmakers made it illegal for an adult to use his or her tongue while kissing a child. The so-called “French Kiss” law was signed by then Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.
Fast forward six years and it appears someone has been arrested — for the first time — for breaking that law.
Police arrested Erick Alezndro Hernandez Tellez, 21, of Henrico for sexual assaulting a 12-year-old “female acquaintance,” police said. Specifically Tellez was charged with violating Virginia Code 18.2-370.6, which states:
Any person 18 years of age or older who, with lascivious intent, kisses a child under the age of 13 on the mouth while knowingly and intentionally penetrating the mouth of such child with his tongue is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Del. Riley Ingram (R – Chesterfield, Henrico, Prince George and Hopewell) sponsored the 2008 bill. He said he believed this was the first time anyone had been arrested for breaking the law he helped pass.
“The one about French kissing?” Del. Ingram replied when asked about it over the phone. “I don’t know of anyone whose been arrested for that.”
Requests were made with both the state and Henrico Police to confirm Del. Riley’s belief.
Del. Riley said he introduced the bill on behalf of a Henrico mother who was upset when a man French kissed her young daughter in a “daycare setting” and felt that person’s punishment was not appropriate for the situation, he recalled.
