Child Attacks In Santa Monica, Venice Prompt Criminal Charges For 23-Year-Old: DA

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 23-year-old man accused of attacking two young children in Santa Monica and Venice earlier this month pleased not guilty to child abuse charges Monday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Ahsante Lamar Morgan pleaded not guilty to two counts of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death. The charges stem from two separate incidents: One attack on a girl on March 10 and a boy on March 14, the DA's office said.

Morgan is suspected of attacking a 6-year-old girl on the street on March 10 at around 7 p.m. at Main Street and Marine Avenue in Santa Monica, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

As the girl and her parents were walking northbound on Main Street, they passed behind a bus stop bench where a man was "acting erratically." The man spun around as the girl and her parents passed behind him and struck the girl, causing her to fall to the ground. She was not seriously injured, police said before Morgan's arrest.

Morgan, who is believed to be homeless, was arrested later that week after a another incident in Venice, Santa Monica police said.

The LAPD said police arrested the suspect on the Venice boardwalk for allegedly assaulting a 7-year-old child. It was unclear whether that attack occurred on the boardwalk or elsewhere, and no further details were immediately available.

Morgan is due back in court March 27 for a bail review hearing.

City News Service contributed to this report.