A St. Paul man is accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in a parking lot over the weekend, authorities say.

Sa Thao, 43, faces one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct as well as two counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct for the incident that allegedly took place Saturday afternoon, according to the criminal complaint filed against Thao Monday in Ramsey County District Court.

A 10-year-old and a 13-year-old girl had just walked out the north exit of Hmong Village at 1101 Johnson Parkway to get something out of their mother’s car when the younger of the two felt a man wrap his arms around her torso and push his body into her backside, the complaint said.

The girl grabbed the man’s hands and pushed him away.

Both girls said the man had his genitals exposed at the time, according to court records.

The girls ran back inside and told their parents.

Police arrested Thao several blocks from the shopping center. He matched the description provided by the girls as well as an image caught on surveillance video, the complaint said.

In an interview with officers, Thao denied exposing himself or groping any one intentionally, according to the complaint.

His zipper was down, he told officers, because he needed to urinate, the complaint said.

Thao was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2017 after he grabbed the buttocks of a 17-year-old girl over her clothes, authorities say. Related Articles Roseville: Man arrested after ex-wife suffers potential exposure to toxic chemical

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He does not have any felonies on his state record.

Thao’s public defender could not be reached for comment.

His next court appearance on the charges is scheduled for later this month.