Pride Park ice cream man charged with sexual battery

A Pride Park ice cream man has been charged with sexual battery after detectives say he sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl after selling ice cream to her.

Bernardo Salinas, 66, was arrested Sunday night following an investigation by detectives with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and charged with capital sexual battery.

Salinas, who lives in the same neighborhood as the victim, sells ice cream cart from a cart, according to an arrest report. However, it was not uncommon for children to go to his home to buy ice cream.

On Sunday, detectives say he sold ice cream to the 7-year-old victim and her 8-year-old brother. The children went to Salinas’ home to buy ice cream, they told investigators. Salinas is said to have sold the boy ice cream and then told him to go outside to play with his friends.

Salinas then took the girl to his bedroom, locked the door and sexually assaulted her, according to the detective’s report. Both children are said to corroborate what happened.

When detectives interviewed Salinas, however, he changed his account various times, according to the report. He first denied letting any of the children in his bedroom, and then he said it was the girl who locked the door to keep her brother out. Finally, he told investigators that it was boy who went into his room and locked the door.

Salinas denied the sexual battery ever occurred.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011, ext. 1911.

This story was originally published October 30, 2017 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Pride Park ice cream man charged with sexual battery."