He lured them into his room promising candy, police say. Now he faces 161 molestation charges

A Florida man has been charged with 161 counts of child molestation after police say four girls came forward claiming he sexually abused them when they were as young as 5. He has pleaded not guilty.

Edgar Augusto Gamez, 52, was arrested Tuesday by the North Miami Police Department on charges including lewd and lascivious child molestation, according to Miami-Dade County criminal court records obtained by USA TODAY on Thursday.

Police said the first victim came forward on Oct. 26 and told her parents that Gamez molested her twice in 2020, according to WPLG-TV.

She said that Gamez lured her into the bedroom of his North Miami home "with a promise of candy" and then molested her, according to an arrest report obtained by the outlet.

After she spoke up, three other girls stepped forward and told police they were also molested by Gamez in the same manner dating back to 2010, the outlet reported.

One of the victims said she was molested “at least once a week” between 2011 – when she was 5 years old – until 2014, when she was 8.

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Gamez has pleaded not guilty

Court records show that Gamez pleaded not guilty to the charges during a hearing on Wednesday and is being represented by a public defender.

Gamez's attorney could not immediately be reached Thursday and a number listed for him was disconnected.

A judge also ordered him to have no contact with the girls.

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Judge ordered Gamez be held without bond

Miami-Dade County online records show that Gamez remained jailed Thursday without bond.

His next court date was not immediately known.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.