Punta Gorda man accused of inappropriate contact with girls

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. A 37-year-old man is accused of inappropriate interactions with two young girls in his neighborhood.

Mario Botello, of the 6600 block of Orange Blossom Lane, was arrested Thursday, according to a Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

Botello grabbed one of the girls by the arm, took her into a bedroom in his home and shut the door while she was visiting his daughter on Wednesday, the report said. The girl repeatedly told Botello she was scared after he showed her a pornographic movie on his phone.

The girl was able to open the door and ran out the front, the report said.

Botello asked another girl who was walking past his home around 6 p.m. to come over to his porch, the report said. He asked the girl if she wanted a massage and showed her a jar with lotion.

The girl sat down on the porch and told Botello she was scared, the report said. The girl received a text from her mother shortly thereafter and immediately left.

The mothers of both girls contacted the sheriff’s office and reported Botello for inappropriate behavior with their daughters, the report said.

Botello faces charges of false imprisonment of a child under 13, showing disturbing obscene material to a minor and misdemeanor battery, deputies said.