Newport Beach, Orange County - A Mission Viejo man plead "not guilty" this week in Newport Beach to indecent exposure charges after he was accused of touching himself in front of teenage girls at a Rancho Santa Margarita public library, according to the Orange County District Attorney.
The suspect has been identified as registered sex offender Robert Bruce Engel, 67, who has several prior convictions of indecent exposure, according to the DA's office.
Newport Beach sex crimes defense attorney Michael L. Guisti explains indecent exposure is a very serious crime and aside from any possible jail time the biggest consequent is having to register as a sex offender.
What is interesting under Penal Code (PC) 314 is for a person to be convicted of incident exposure they must draw attention to their genitals as accidentally exposing yourself will not warrant an indecent exposure charge, according to Guisti.
Newport Beach criminal defense attorney Guisti also says wearing revealing clothing doesn't qualify as indecent exposure.
It would appear based on this information, according to Guisti, that the suspect purposely was drawing attention to his "private area."
What is interesting, according to Guisti, is the DA opted not to charge this suspect with PC 647(a) lewd conduct in public, because when somebody touches themselves with sexual intent that becomes a lewd conduct charge.
Now this person already is a registered sex offender and attorney Guisti says if this was somebody else with a fairly clean record convicted of indecent exposure they would probably have to register as a sex offender.
If you or somebody you know are facing indecent exposure charges it's very important to have an experienced Orange County sex crimes attorney on your side who can defend these charges and most importantly prevent you from having to register as a sex offender.
Call the Orange County sex crime defense lawyer specialists at the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti right away so we can help you keep your freedom.
