Stranger sexually assaulted teen in public library bathroom, NC police say

A stranger sexually assaulted a teenage girl in the men’s restroom of a North Carolina public library recently, according to police.

Authorities were still searching for the suspect on Friday.

The 15-year-old victim was assaulted Nov. 17 in the Concord branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library System, 27 Union St. North, according to a Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office news release Wednesday night.

A man “was seen conversing with the juvenile outside the library” at about 10 a.m., the sheriff’s office news release said.

“The two entered the library shortly before 1 p.m. and were seen walking into the men’s restroom, where the assault took place,” according to the release.

A library worker called 911 that same afternoon to report the assault, the release said.

Arrest warrants were issued Wednesday for 32-year-old Larry Herman Barrino on two counts of statutory sex offense with a child, the sheriff’s office news release said. Barrino might be in Monroe, according to the news release. Investigators don’t know where he lives, a Cabarrus County spokeswoman told the Observer in an email Friday night

“There is no indication the suspect has a criminal background related to violent crimes or sex crimes, or that he previously knew the juvenile,” Cabarrus County Sheriff Brad Riley said in the news release. “We believe this is an isolated incident.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office at 704-920-3000.

This story was originally published November 21, 2018 at 9:41 PM.