HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- The man arrested and charged under Virginia’s little known "French Kiss" law was granted bond Friday.
A judge granted Erick Alezndro Hernandez Tellez $3500 bond and ordered Tellez to have no contact with the alleged victim or her mother.
In a jailhouse interview Wednesday, Tellez said he was confused about the charges and why he was arrested since he claims he never kissed the girl in question.
Police arrested the 21-year-old man for sexual assaulting a 12-year-old “female acquaintance.” Tellez was charged with violating Virginia Code 18.2-370.6, which outlaws anyone 18 years old or older from kissing a child under the age of 13 with a tongue.
Tellez said he has never been alone with the girl. He said the girl hangs out with a group of teenagers who harass him when he walks to his sister's house.
He said police came to his home last week after he and the girl's teenage boyfriend got into a fight. He said he believed the girl and her boyfriend made up the story to get him in trouble.
"I voluntarily went with police because I know I did nothing wrong," Tellez, who speaks Spanish, said through a translator. "I was never with her, so I'm not scared about getting in trouble."
Tellez, who said he worked as a landscaper for Stockner's, said he believed he is being taken advantage of because he cannot defend himself in English. He said he did not understand why he was originally denied bond.
