Virginia Man Charged with Felony for Indecent Exposure
A Virginia man faces felony charges for taking indecent liberties after exposing himself to several minors on two occasions, according to an article by the Loudoun Times-Mirror.
The first incident occurred on May 27th at approximately 2 p.m. in Ashburn. Near the 43000 block of Buttermere Terrace, the Virginia man allegedly walked up to several minor children, exposed his genitals, and then ran away. The second incident occurred later that same day in Leesburg.
The Leesburg Police Department responded to the second incident and apprehended the Virginia man. Based on available evidence, the authorities charged the Virginia man with two counts of taking indecent liberties with children.
At this point, the Virginia man remains in police custody at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. While this man awaits his day in court, it seems appropriate to review Virginia laws against, and penalties for, taking indecent liberties with children.
What are the Virginia Laws Against Taking Indecent Liberties with Children?
Code of Virginia Section 18.2-370 defines what qualifies as taking indecent liberties with children. Under this section, it is unlawful for any adult to willingly engage in certain lewd behaviors with or around children under the age of 15 years old.
More specifically, it is unlawful for any person to:
- Expose their genital or sexual parts to a child or propose to do the same;
- Request that a child fondle their genital or sexual parts or do the same to a child;
- Attempt to perform sexual intercourse, anal intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus with a child or propose to do the same; or
- Allure, entice, invite, or persuade a child to go somewhere with the intention of carrying out any of the actions above.
On a related note, Section 18.2-370 also prohibits adults from knowingly engaging in child pornography. It is illegal for any person to receive money, property, or other things of value in exchange for allowing, encouraging, or enticing any minor child to participate in pornographic endeavors.
What are the Virginia Penalties for Taking Indecent Liberties with Children?
Section 18.2-370 also provides the punishment scheme for taking indecent liberties with children. Typically, any person who commits this offense will face Class 5 felony charges. If convicted, the punishment includes a prison sentence between one and 10 years as well as fines up to $2,500.
That being said, repeat and other offenders can face Class 4 felony charges for taking indecent liberties with children. If convicted for that class of felony, the punishment includes a prison sentence between two and 10 years as well as fines up to $100,000.
Do You Need Legal Help?
If you need legal help with criminal charges in Virginia, it can be tremendously beneficial to reach out to a skilled criminal defense lawyer. The Leesburg criminal lawyers at Simms Showers LLP have experience representing clients in various criminal contexts under Virginia state and U.S. federal law. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Resource:
loudountimes.com/news/manassas-park-man-charged-with-indecent-exposure-in-ashburn-leesburg/article_3f122a96-a0f7-11ea-a272-0b50ef17236a.html
https://www.simmsshowerslaw.com/mixed-reviews-on-criminal-justice-reforms-in-virginia/
