Teen accused of luring, molesting child

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - A 19-year-old man is behind bars for allegedly enticing a 7-year-old neighbor into his backyard and then molesting her.  
     
According to police, Chad Deignan pretended he had a puppy to get her and her friend into his yard.

Around 5 p.m. Monday, according to authorities, the 7- and 8-year-old girls were walking around in a trailer park in the 10000 block of Second Street when a man allegedly coaxed them out of sight.   

Deignan, who is charged with criminal sexual contact of a minor, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and intimidation of a witness, was in court Tuesday.
     
He is accused of asking the 7-year-old to touch his genitals. When she refused, the girl said Deignan grabbed her from behind and touched her inappropriately.

Court documents state the girl's brother was heard calling her home for dinner when it happened, and eventually Deignan let her go.
     
The girls ran home and told the victim's father immediately.

"There is information that the other witness that was with the victim, the suspect pulled her to the side, not physically, but asked her to pinky swear that she wouldn't tell anyone about this incident," said Sgt. Pete Golden, of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies arrived shortly after it happened and said they found the victim's father and the suspect in a heated confrontation.
     
Golden said authorities were told Deignan was at the trailer park staying with friends when it happened.

Deignan initially told investigators that the girls had a puppy and that he asked to pet it and only hugged the young girl. Authorities said he later changed his story, admitting to touching the girl and making her agree to the pinky-swear.

Golden said the girl and her family have been directed to services for counseling.