Man arrested in attempted sexual assault in laundry room

A Carson City man remained in custody Monday after allegedly attempting to sexually assault a woman in an apartment complex laundry room.

Carlos Cardenas, 23, is being held on suspicion of felony coercion and battery with intent to commit sexual assault.

According to the arrest report, a 17-year-old girl was getting her laundry from a complex facility in the 7700 block of Silver Oak Drive about 6 p.m. Sunday when she noticed Cardenas drive by in an orange Mustang and wave at her. A short time later, Cardenas allegedly entered the laundry room and identified himself as Carlos. The report states he asked the teen if she had a boyfriend, and he told her he was married with a child and lived in the Cherry Creek Apartments. The girl said she'd never met Cardenas before the assault.

The victim told police that as she was collecting her laundry, Cardenas allegedly rubbed her back. When she told him to stop, he allegedly told her he was a drug dealer and pulled out and offered her suspected crystal meth.

The girl declined and told investigators that as she was leaving the laundry room, Cardenas grabbed her face and neck, pulling her hair, and attempted to kiss her. He then pushed her against a dryer and succeeded in putting his tongue in her mouth. After a few seconds, Cardenas allegedly stopped accosting the girl, and as he was leaving told her, "I know where you live."

He said he would be back at 7 p.m. and drove from the area, the report states. The girl ran to her apartment and told her mother, who called police.

Police located the Mustang in the 3300 block of Cherry Creek Apartments and found Cardenas in apartment 202. He admitted to seeing the victim in the laundry room, but denied assaulting her.

Cardenas is being held on $40,000 bail.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.