COLUMBUS CIRCLE — A repeat subway sex abuser busted for rubbing up against a woman on the 1 train claimed he "wasn’t touching her with his hands" during his latest arrest, the NYPD said.
The 20-year-old victim, from Oregon, was riding the train from the 72nd Street subway station to the 59th Street-Columbus Circle station around 9:10 a.m. on Aug. 3 when Leon Roberto, 41, rubbed up against her, police said.
The woman moved away from Roberto, at which point he moved behind her and rubbed up against her a second time, a complaint filed with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said.
At some point during the incident, Roberto apparently tried to defend his actions by stating, “I wasn’t touching her with my hands."
He was arrested and charged with forcible touching and sexual abuse, police and the DA’s office said.
Roberto has been arrested on both those charges twice in the past, the NYPD said.
On April 14, he rubbed up against a female rider on a train at the 86th Street subway station on the Lexington Avenue line, the NYPD said.
His other previous arrest is sealed, the NYPD said.
Roberto is currently being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex on $2,500 bail and is scheduled to next appear in court on Sept. 9, city Department of Correction records show.
Roberto’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
