Jersey City man charged after alleged indecent assault of Easter Bunny performer at Pennsylvania mall
Police say Shivakrishna Bera admitted touching the performer’s chest while she worked at South Hills Village Mall in Allegheny County.
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A Jersey City man is facing charges after allegedly touching a performer dressed as the Easter Bunny at a Pennsylvania shopping mall, according to a criminal complaint.
Shivakrishna Bera, 36, is charged with indecent assault and harassment and cyber harassment of a child in connection with the incident reported March 23 at South Hills Village Mall in Allegheny County.
Upper St. Clair Township police responded to the mall at about 3:20 p.m. for a report of an indecent assault and located the victim and a witness in a back office, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The victim told officers she was working at the mall dressed as the Easter Bunny and taking photos when a man approached and began asking questions. The victim said the man touched her arm, then touched the top of her chest before grabbing her breasts, police said.
A witness told officers the man asked to greet the bunny and questioned whether the character was male or female before placing his fingers into the nose and mouth area of the costume and touching the victim, according to the affidavit.
Mall security reviewed surveillance video that showed the suspect touching the costume head multiple times and making contact with the chest area, police said.
Officers later located a man matching the suspect’s description asleep inside a movie theater at the mall. He was detained and identified through a New Jersey driver’s license as Bera, according to police.
Police said Bera made several statements after being detained, including saying he thought the costume was a doll and later telling investigators he was trying to “test if it’s real… or fake,” referring to the victim’s breasts.
According to police documents, while in the car Bera said "if I did not watch a movie here I wouldn't have been caught."
Bera was transported to the Allegheny County Jail, police said.
