Man accused of assaulting 2 children

A man is accused of assaulting two children at a local gas station last weekend. 

Maricopa police said 39-year-old Kendall D. Kachinhongva was arrested after he pushed two kids who were shopping for snacks, according to a probable cause statement obtained by InMaricopa.   

Cops responded to the Circle K on North John Wayne Parkway at about 6:45 p.m. Saturday, where they found Kachinhongva intoxicated at a patio table outside the gas station. 

Two minors — their ages were not released, but police said they were no older than 14 — told cops they were shopping for snacks when Kachinhongva approached them. He was exhibiting “odd behavior,” they said. 

Kachinhongva reportedly told one child his shoes were untied and then pushed him. Kachinhongva allegedly pushed the second child and told him to “get the f*ck out of the store, or else.” 

A Circle K employee told Kachinhongva to leave the store. He first refused but eventually left and sat outside at the table where cops found him. 

Kachinhongva was arrested and booked into Pinal County jail on two counts of assaulting a child under age 15 and one count of trespassing. He faces a presumptive sentence of 10 years behind bars. 

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