MAN, 23, CHARGED WITH ABUSING GIRL

Benjamin Flores-Valle, a 23 year old Hempstead man, was arrested and charged with first degree sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child for picking up a 12 year old acquaintance as she was walking home from school and sexually abusing her in his car.  He was ordered held at the Nassau jail on $25,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty.  The Legal Aid attorney representing Flores-Valle said the case against his client was weak.  All he did was pick her up and was driving her home, it's based on he said, she said.  This is the kind of case that may unravel as it develops.  Flores-Valle was a friend of the girl's father and had seen her at the father's house several times.  When he spotted the girl walking home from school just after 3 p.m. in Uniondale he offered her a ride.  The girl approached his car, opened the door and then hesitated before he pulled her in.  Two undercover officers on routine patrol saw the care parked near the Greenfield Cemetery and noticed its blinker on and approached.  As they got closer they noticed people moving inside and sees the 23 year old driver on top of the 12 year old passenger, fondling her.

(New York)