Carl Pecoraro Jr accused of touching male Walmart workers in crotch area at Port St. Lucie store

PORT ST. LUCIE — A 66-year-old man accused of tapping the crotches of three male Walmart employees was arrested Wednesday, telling police he has a problem, according to affidavits released Thursday.

Carl Pecoraro Jr., of Marriottsville, Md., was arrested by Port St. Lucie police on three misdemeanor battery charges following the incidents at a Walmart Supercenter in St. Lucie West.

Police on Monday went to the store in the 1600 block of Northwest St. Lucie West Boulevard and met with a loss prevention officer. She said she'd learned that a man had been touching employees in their crotch areas, and that an incident happened that day.

One of the men identified as a victim told police that on Sept. 18, a man on three occasions asked about items at the top of shelves. He said the man tapped his crotch area three times with the back of his hand "before (the employee) knew what was going on."

"The first time, he thought was an accident, the second time, he backed up but the male was persistent," an affidavit states. "The third time, he said, 'I have to go, sir.'"

Two other male Walmart employees described similar encounters.

The loss prevention official said she discovered an incident on video in which the man engaged in similar behavior with a customer.

The loss prevention official and one of the victims told police it appeared the man tried to alter his look, saying he's shaven at times and at others, he had a beard.

The loss prevention official got the license plate of the sport utility vehicle the man drove off in. Police determined Pecoraro owned the SUV.

Police on Wednesday spoke with Pecoraro, who said he's been arrested three times before in connection with inappropriately touching males in New Jersey. Pecoraro has been convicted four times for inappropriately touching males, affidavits state.

Pecoraro said he touched the three employees at the Walmart in St. Lucie West and that he has a problem.

Pecoraro, listed as retired, said he used to see a psychiatrist, but stopped about 10 years ago.

Master Sgt. Frank Sabol, police spokesman, said touches over the clothes constitute the crime of battery, as opposed to a sex crime.

Pecoraro was released Wednesday from the St. Lucie County Jail on $2,250 bail, a jail official said Thursday.