LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Jefferson County Public School employee is facing several more charges of sexual abuse in Louisville after more men have come forward with allegations.
Michael Mascardo, 57, is now facing 13 charges of third-degree sexual abuse.
He was arrested by Oldham County Police on Jan. 12 after police received a report Mascardo was inappropriately touching men at a gas station parking lot while dressed as a woman.
Mascardo appeared in a Jefferson County court where a judge charged him with five accounts of third-degree sexual abuse on Tuesday morning. The judge asked for a $25,000 bond but his attorney wanted that reduced.
"I'm going to set the bond at $2,500 if posted to the home incarceration program and comply with pretrial services," the judge said.
Mascardo was also ordered to take a mental health assessment and he's required not to have contact with any of the victims in this case.
His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 9.
Police say Mascardo went up to a man who was sitting in his vehicle and asked for directions with a map. When the man tried to help, Mascardo allegedly reached into the vehicle's open window and groped the victim.
At least three unreported incidents of an "identical nature" took place in the same area earlier last year.
Once Mascardo's mugshot was released to the public, several more victims came forward with similar allegations of abuse. Some of those took place in Jefferson County.
According to an arrest citation, police say five men described being abused by an "Asian female who was dressed in female clothes and a wig" while sitting in their vehicles.
Similar to the incidents in Oldham County, the victims alleged Mascardo walked up to their vehicle and asked for directions before placing a map on their lap, then rubbing their legs and genitals.
One of the victims was parked in a JCPS parking lot, where Mascardo was employed.
Carolyn Callahan with JCPS says Mascardo is "working from an off-site, remote location and has no contact with JCPS students or staff other than his supervisor." Officials have not confirmed exactly what school he worked for.
According to police, during Oldham County Police's investigation, a backpack containing 17 pieces of women's clothing, a red wig and two large maps were found in Mascardo's car.
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