BRIDGEPORT — The proprietor of a metropolis furnishings keep was purchased Friday to continue to be away from a few females who have accused him of sexually assaulting them in the retailer.
Hennawi Salem, 59, owner of Salem Home furnishings on Porter Avenue, is billed with two counts of 3rd-degree sexual assault, two counts of fourth-diploma sexual assault, two counts of disorderly perform and a person rely of chance of personal injury to a youngster.
He is accused of groping the women whilst they had been making an attempt out mattresses in the retailer, telling them “this is what your partner ought to do to you,” in accordance to law enforcement.
During Salem’s arraignment hearing Friday afternoon, Top-quality Court Decide Kevin Doyle issued Salem a protecting get barring him from any additional speak to with the victims.
“Absolutely no contact is authorized less than this order,” the decide told him.
“I understand,” Salem responded by a Spanish interpreter.
“I read him the police studies, he appreciates to remain absent from the secured folks,” Salem’s attorney, Erin Discipline, instructed the decide.
Salem did not enter pleas to the prices and the judge ongoing the case to Sept. 14. He is free on a full of $190,000 bonds.
The two Salem and Industry declined remark as they still left the Golden Hill Avenue courthouse.
In accordance to the arrest warrants, in just about every scenario the females have been browsing for mattresses at the furnishings keep when they had been approached by Salem, who recognized himself as the proprietor of the retail outlet, and available to demonstrate them a “better selection” of mattresses in the basement.
He led the gals to the basement level the place he experienced some mattresses lined up and urged them to lay down on them to consider them out, the affidavit point out.
In just about every situation, the affidavits point out that Salem persuaded the women to roll over on their stomachs to get a improved feel for the mattress and then began massaging their back sides.
Just one affidavit states that a victim promptly jumped up, telling Salem, “This ain’t no therapeutic massage parlor,” and ran out of the store. The other two women of all ages lay surprised on the mattresses as Salem instructed them that what he was doing to them was “good” for them, the affidavit states. A single woman experienced her 11-calendar year-previous daughter with her when the assault happened, the affidavit states.
The initial alleged assault transpired in April 2019, the past was on July 1 of this calendar year, in accordance to the affidavits.