Man charged with sexually abusing California teens at Smithsonian Museum

A man is suspected of inappropriately touching seven girls who were visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's butterfly exhibit.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - Authorities have arrested a man on charges that he inappropriately touched seven girls who were visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Court documents say 35-year-old Devon Foote was arrested Tuesday and charged with five counts of second-degree sexual abuse and three counts of assault. Officials say Foote approached a group of 13- and 14-year-old girls from California and touched their buttocks as they toured the museum's butterfly exhibit.

Court document show a total of seven girls in the group say Foote assaulted them. Prosecutors say Foote pressed his groin against one teen.

The girls' chaperone reported the alleged assault to museum security officers, who apprehended Foote after the girls saw him on his bike as they left the museum.

It's unclear if Foote has an attorney.

Museum officials declined comment.

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