The district attorney's office in San Mateo County, Calif., warns Transportation Security Administration workers at San Francisco International Airport that anyone who inappropriately touches a passenger during a security pat-down will be prosecuted, KGO-TV out of San Francisco reports.

This comes on the heels of word - as shared in Alan Levin's story in USA TODAY - that TSA Administrator John Pistole has told a Senate committee in Washington that more invasive pat-downs are necessary. The developments come in the wake of public outcry over the search techniques.

In California, San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe says complaints of inappropriate touching will be addressed by his office, KGO-TV reports.

"The case would be reviewed, and if we could prove the elements of it, that it was inappropriately done with a sexual or lewd intent, that person would be prosecuted," Wagstaffe says. "If someone were to take their hand and put it underneath somebody's blouse and touch someone inappropriately and go skin to skin, that's a felony, and if it's done simply over the clothing, according to California law, that's a misdemeanor."

(Posted by Melanie Eversley)