The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A woman in Florida was arrested after she was reportedly found sexually pleasuring herself in a public park near a statue in the Veterans Memorial Garden.
Bayview Park in Key West, Florida, provides several types of recreation for its visitors. Their website lists several amenities, some of which include tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic areas, and a playground in addition to providing a space for summer and after-school programs hosted by the local Boys and Girls Youth Club. Another popular feature on the grounds is the Key West Veterans Memorial Garden.
A statue of the Cuban independence leader Jose Marti stands in the Cuban memorial section of the garden, and early in the morning on July 9, park visitors walking around in that section reportedly came across someone lying on the ground with their pants pulled down. Someone who thought the suspect was a male reported what they saw to the authorities, and they said they believed it appeared that the man was unconscious.
The first officer to arrive saw that the person presented as a woman and not a man, and he reported that she was in the middle of masturbating. He shared what he allegedly witnessed with the second officer after they showed up. When interacting with the woman, who was reported as a local without permanent housing, she said she was unsure why they were there.
The woman was taken into custody and booked into the Monroe County Detention Center. She is currently accused of one misdemeanor count of exposure of sexual organs. According to online facility records, she is being held in lieu of a $5,000 bond awaiting a hearing scheduled for July 26.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a sexual offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.