While churchgoers were present for a Tuesday morning mass, a man allegedly entered the house of worship and masturbated in front of them after taking a dip in the receptacle that holds the holy water.
On October 9, 75 people went to the morning service at the Spirit of Life Roman Catholic Church in Mandan, North Dakota.
One of the women who works at the church allegedly saw a man without his clothing on inside of the fountain of holy water used for baptisms. She reported that she then saw him begin to stroke his penis in the direction of the altar before he walked toward it and continued to masturbate despite the many people inside. The woman alerted the authorities and told them of the incident.
When the police came to the church they talked to a man, identified as 21-year-old Zachary Burdick, who they suspected was the perpetrator of the reported acts. Burdick allegedly told an officer that he was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time and that he had decided to masturbate for the purpose of sexual gratification though he reportedly stated that he understands that a church is not the proper place for such behavior.
Burdick was arrested and he is facing charges for felony indecent exposure, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
While indecent exposure is typically a misdemeanor the church was conducting a program for children in the building within 50-feet of the place that Burdick was allegedly seen without clothing causing the felony charge to apply. None of the children saw the suspect during the purported incident.
If you or someone you love is suspected of indecent exposure, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.