Police: Man molested girl in car while youngster's mom was driving

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Police arrested a Harlingen man Sunday on suspicion of molesting a 4-year-old girl in the back seat of a car while the girl’s mother was driving.

South Padre Island police arrested Michael Thomas Danks, 28, on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, Island Police Chief Randy Smith said Tuesday.

The mother of the 4-year-old had been driving down Padre Boulevard on Sunday after a day at the beach with her daughter and several friends, Smith said. The woman called police after she allegedly saw Danks fondling her daughter in the back seat of her car.

Smith said Danks was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Danks went before a judge Monday. Bond was set at $60,000. Cameron County Jail records indicate he was still being held there Tuesday.