A Denver man is wanted by police for Indecent Exposure – C.R.S. 18-7-302. Nicknamed the “Thong Bandit,” the man has a habit of surprising groups of women in crowded areas by disrobing and performing sexual acts. His nickname was given to him not because he is a thief, but because of his choice of clothing during these spectacles. If he is caught, he could be charged with a sex offence and have to register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender treatment. If he is charged, he should work with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can fight on his behalf in court.

Indecent Exposure Is Similar to Public Indecency

Indecent Exposure is very similar to Public Indecency – C.R.S. 18-7-301; the difference lies in the sentence. Indecent Exposure is a sex offense in Denver, Adams and Douglas County, while Public Indecency is not (unless you have two convictions). Sex offenders are required to register in the jurisdiction in which they live, and must go through treatment overseen by the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) in Colorado.

The difference between these two nudity sex offenses is quite small: You will be charged with Indecent Exposure in Denver if you knowingly expose your genitals to the view of another person in a situation where you are likely to cause affront or alarm, with the intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desire. You will also be charged if you perform an act of masturbation in view of another person in a situation where it is likely you will cause affront or alarm. Public Indecency is charged in Larimer, Jefferson and Arapahoe County when a person exposes an intimate part of the body (not including the genitals) with the intent to satisfy or arouse sexual desire, or if they expose their genitals with the intent to cause alarm (but not with the intent to satisfy sexual desire). You will also be charged if you lewdly caress another person, or if you perform an act of sexual intercourse in public (read our recent post for more information about the exact difference).

The Thong Bandit Would be a Sex Offender if Caught

The notorious Denver thong bandit would be charged with Indecent Exposure if he was caught, because he is known to masturbate in public. He would be required to register as a sex offender, go through treatment overseen by the SOMB, who has a harsh and unyielding perspective on sex offenders. They believe people who expose themselves are all the same and “incurable,” so this flasher would receive the same treatment as a serial rapist (read our recent post for more about the harsh SOMB sex offender treatment philosophy). If you have been charged with this sex offense, it is vital that you work with an experienced criminal lawyer who can fight on your behalf to get your case dismissed or work out a favorable plea deal.

If you or a loved one has been charged with Indecent Exposure in Denver or Grand County, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880, or submit the “Get Help Now” form. Together, we can protect your future.