Aman Bhatia from Louisiana is accused of touching several girls inappropriately.
AB Wire
An Indian citizen living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Aman Bhatia, 27, accused of inappropriately touching several teens at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park in Florida has got bail from Orange County Jail.
Bhatia was arrested last Sunday after at least six victims, including several between 12 and 15 years old, said he inappropriately touched them while in the wave pool, according to an arrest report, reported the Orlando Sentinel.
An attorney for Bhatia, Michael Mackhanlall, later released a statement saying a “vigorous defense investigation” is underway. “We immediately filed a written plea of not guilty,” Mackhanlall said in an email to the Sentinel.
Bhatia was released from jail, a day after an Orange County judge told him not to return to a public water park.
Witnesses told Orange County sheriff’s deputies they noticed Bhatia getting close to several teens and women in the wave pool.
One said that while in knee-deep water, Bhatia grabbed a teen’s butt. He turned around and said, “I’m so sorry,” and then followed the teen and a friend into deeper water, according to the report.
The teen tried to move away, but Bhatia followed. When a wave came, Bhatia again touched the teen, the report states.
Deputies said a witness also saw Bhatia touch a woman, who pushed him away. She then got out of the water saying someone touched her, according to the report.
Another victim said Bhatia pinched her, leaving a red mark on her skin, deputies said. Several victims said they watched Bhatia and reported him to a lifeguard after noticing he was “touching a lot” of people, the report states.
Deputies were called and issued Bhatia a trespass warning, banning him for life from all Walt Disney World properties in Florida.
Bhatia denied the allegations and told deputies he didn’t have his glasses on and his vision was fuzzy.
“Mr. Bhatia said everyone was bumping into each other and having fun but he never intentionally touched anyone or grabbed any ladies breasts or buttocks,” a deputy wrote in the arrest report.
Bhatia’s attorney said his client has been cooperative.
“The police report in the public record states that when Aman was questioned he told the officer at the scene that his glasses were broken and the intensity of the wave was causing him to bump into people, and when doing so he would say sorry,” Mackhanlall wrote. “He stated that any touching was unintentional and inadvertent and cooperated fully with police.”
Bhatia is facing four counts of lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim under 16 years old and two counts of battery.
The arrest report includes an address in Baton Rouge, La. and shows Bhatia is a citizen of India. He requested deputies notify the Indian Consulate, the Sentinel reported.