A New York man was recently convicted in Lancaster County Court of groping a woman last year at Root’s Country Market.
Zhong Wu Shan, 38, will be sentenced on a misdemeanor indecent assault charge after a background investigation is completed, in about three months.
Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick presented evidence at the day-long trial that Shan was a stand holder at Root’s, selling purses and wallets, when he groped a female customer on July 31, 2018.
Shan first made comments about the woman’s appearance and asked if she had a boyfriend, according to testimony.
When the woman asked for a price of a wallet, Shan hugged the woman, put his hand into her dress and said, “If you let me do this, you can have it for free.”
The woman fled and called her mother and a friend, who contacted police.
East Hempfield Township police officer Ethan Etter asked Shan what happened and, as the officer demonstrated what was reported, Shan said, “That’s the deal,” according to testimony presented by ADA Haverstick.
Officer Etter filed charges.
Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn Jr. presided over the non-jury trial and will order sentence.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright