A man charged with indecent exposure for being naked inside his own home ACQUITTED..

[HipChick]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36239042/ns/us_news-weird_news/?GT1=43001


A man charged with indecent exposure after two women said they saw him naked inside his own home was acquitted Wednesday by a Virginia jury.

Erick Williamson, 29, has argued since his October arrest that he should not be punished for being naked in the privacy of his own home.

Police and prosecutors, as well as the two women who testified against him, said he intended to expose himself and made no attempt to conceal himself in a residential neighborhood filled with children.

"It's really a weight off my shoulders after these last six months," Williamson said after his acquittal. "I think (the verdict) kind of sets the record straight. It was an innocent action."

In December, a judge in Fairfax County's General District Court convicted Williamson of misdemeanor indecent exposure, but imposed neither jail time nor a fine. Still, Williamson appealed his case to the county's circuit court, risking a maximum punishment of a year in jail to clear his name.

"When you know you've done nothing wrong, it's hard to take these kind of accusations and not stand up to it," said Williamson, an out-of-work commercial diver who racked up thousands of dollars in legal fees.

At the time of his arrest, Williamson was sharing a home in Springfield with other commercial divers. He testified Wednesday that his roommates had gone to work and left him alone in the house for the first time in months. He was moving out, and decided to pack his belongings and make breakfast in the nude.

Two women testified that they saw him naked that morning. The first, a school librarian, said she heard a loud moan and drunken singing. Then, as she drove by Williamson's house at about 6:40 a.m., she saw him in the buff and called 911.

A police officer came by the house, saw nothing unusual and left.

[Divine Discontent]

1. Thank God there's still some brains at work. I was rolling my eyes hearing he might suffer for

something that is his right to do.

[Swamp Rat]

2. How come the women are not charged with voyeurism?

[Myrina]

3. Peeping Tomasina, methinks.

I'd definitely file suit against her if I were him, for violating his privacy!

[Echo In Light]

7. +1

[HipChick]

6. One was the wife of a Fairfax County LEO...

bet that had a lot to do with it...

[Ignis]

60. +1

[saltpoint]

44. --------

:thumbsup:

[Rage Inc.]

51. Probably members of Focus On The Family...

...wanting to see what it looked like after years of indoctrinated "chastity!"

[Warpy]

4. Williamson should never have been put through this

The only times it's appropriate to call the law on a neighbor in his own home are if you hear a physical fight going on inside the house or if a loud party goes on past midnight on a week night.

That busybody should have been charged with being a peeping Tom, IMO.

[JonLP24]

5. Where's vadawg?

He was defending the cops/prosecutor big time when this story first broke. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6840894

[mitchum]

10. vadawg sleeps with the fishes

[Warren Stupidity]

55. thank you mods

[Jazzgirl]

64. +1000

I'm glad to see it gone. I remember the thread where he defended the woman's charges. Disgusting.

[conscious evolution]

11. Resting In Peace

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=222228

[JonLP24]

13. (Sorry) It was a rhetorical question

The second I saw the headline I immediately remembered the initial article where he kept saying there is "more to the story" and was making up details that wasn't in the article and stated they'll come up later.

[Subdivisions]

24. Fucking hell yeah! What finally got him banned? n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

57. Homophobia. Pro-DADT. -nt

[Iggo]

36. No way!!!!!!

Do you happen to know what thread did him in?

[JonLP24]

38. I can't find my gravedancing thread for some reason

but there was link to one of the last threads he posted in with deleted messages where posters you could see replied to those addressing those to vadawg. He was concerned by gay people showering with others in the Military.

[Iggo]

39. Oh. Huh.

I would've guessed overly vigorous defense of LEO's. (That's what he and I usually bumped heads over.)

I'm a little surprised. Thanks for the info.

[Toasterlad]

37. LOL! I Remember That Bullshit.

He kept saying that the whole story hadn't come out yet, and that everyone would eat their words in the end.

And know he's dead. Metaphorically speaking. How ironic.

[Ignis]

62. "We don't have all the facts!"

Seven-hundredth verse, same as the first!

[Zix]

58. Good thing too.

Hideous little jerk that he was.

[Ignis]

61. Off thinking up new sockpuppet names.

[Blue_Tires]

70. Good work digging that up, because I was looking for it, LOL

The ONLY reason I stopped the back-and-forth with him was because he sent me a short PM implying he worked for (or was closely connected with) the department investigating the case...WHY did I EVER give that **** the benefit of the doubt?

[ZeitgeistObserver]

8. Thank you for the update.

I wondered what had happened to him.

[HipChick]

9. Can he sue the cops? n/t

[anigbrowl]

40. No. The county, maybe.

the police just did their job, responding to, investigating, and documenting a report of criminal activity. It was the DA's office which decided to prosecute. However, it's somewhat difficult to bring a charge of malicious prosecution.

[NeedleCast]

12. Almost Happened to Me

Ironically, in the same county of Virginia. I live next door to a school (adult education center). I have three windows in my house that face that the school, two in the living room, one in the kitchen. I leave the living room curtains down unless I'm in there but usually have the kitchen curtains open, especially in winter, so my indoor potted herbs can get some sunlight.

About a year ago I made the early morning dread walk from bedroom to kitchen (where my washer and dryer are) to get some clothes out of the dryer. I happened to be wearing only boxers at the time and apparently someone in the school parking lot saw me and called the cops. I was on my way out the door to work when the police cruiser pulled up. Cops talked to me for about 10 minutes, determined that it was just an innocent thing and they left laughing about it. Still, they did warn me to be careful because that was the kind of thing that could land me on a sex offender database.

[sui generis]

14. Oh. M'gawd!

I have a privacy fence and private back yard (no elevations can see in) but partner and I NEVER wear clothes to the pool. If someone climbed up on a ladder or got on my property to peer at the full moons through the hinges exposure is the last damn thing they would have on their minds.

Funny story - wind storm damaged the fence between me and my 90 year old neighbor's house, and when we replaced it, she came over and said she was going to miss watching us skinny dip through the damaged boards. Ever since then I've been wondering if she put up a minicam somewhere and is streaming my summer back yard to wwwwww.boysnextdoorthisisnotarealwebsite.com or some such. :P

:shrug: who knows!

You know unintentional exposure, such as walking into your living room after dark and realizing the blinds aren't drawn is COMPLETELY different than intentional exposure which has a sexualized theme.

I would sue those bitches into a new color.

[hootinholler]

35. So you didn't give her a window?

Or at least a loose knothole?

:rofl:

Seems like the least you could do for yer neighbor.

-Hoot

[liberalmuse]

15. Wow - justice.

That was a ridiculous charge. I saw a naked man one morning when I was walking the dog. He had his blinds open and I figured he could do what he wanted in his own house, and besides, he was kind of hot. He also probably had no idea a person could see through the blinds, but even if he did, one always has the option of looking away, which is what I eventually did. Also, nakedness is kind of a natural state. How it will scar a child is dependent on the context - a naked man in his own home minding his own damn business should not scar a child for life, but the parent's overreaction to it might.

[DURHAM D]

16. Let me see if I get this right -

You can be an exhibitionist as long as you are on your own property.

When I was in grade school in the 50s our neighbor kept exposing himself to the young girls in the neighborhood. He always stayed on his own property. Sometimes he was on the front porch, sometimes he was on the back porch which was visible from the street, the alley and neighbor's backyards. Sometimes he was in his garden or he emerged from the detached garage at the back of the property. We always just took off running because we were afraid of him.

The city "fathers" and my father talked with him multiple times but nothing ever happened because they did not want to embarrass his wife and children. My father changed jobs and we moved to another town because of the jerk. Erick sounds like a classic exhibitionist. What will he do next?

[Gormy Cuss]

17. The court decided otherwise.

And there's a big difference between someone who is intentionally flashing children on the porch where there is a low expectation of privacy and someone who's minding his own business inside his residence walking around in the buff. Hell, even if he stood in front of a street-facing window for a minute or two that's not evidence of intent to commit indecent exposure.

[DURHAM D]

22. He was outside at one point. nt

[Gormy Cuss]

25. Again, that's not the same as someone who makes a pattern and practice of doing same.

When he was outside, was he in a location where there was a reasonable expectation that someone could see him from the street? At 6:40 AM?

[NeedleCast]

18. No, you don't have this right

Try again.

[Gormy Cuss]

23. Try again yourself.

I said nothing about a right. Someone who flakes out and stands in front of the window is not the same as a flasher and any judge with half a brain would considered that when deciding the case. In the initial decision the judge found him guilty bu levied no fine or jail time.

[NeedleCast]

29. I think you're replying incorrectly

I agreed with you...my post was in response to Durham D.

[Gormy Cuss]

32. Oops! So sorry.

You're right. I WAS surprised that you were taking such a position, LOL.

[JonLP24]

19. He was in the kitchen getting coffee

Not on either porch. Plus it was first reported it was in the early morning around 6:30 then the police or the woman changed their story to 8:30 not sure which is true but the jury acquitted him.

[Kookaburra]

21. That's not what I got from the story...

He sounds like a man who was walking around indoors (in his own home) naked, and some snoopy annoying neighbors happened to see him and went berserk.

[shraby]

28. Big difference..Erick was INSIDE his house with every

reason to believe he had privacy..in daylight the house inside is usually darker and one cannot see inside without getting very close to the window to peek inside. At night, it's a different story.
Somone on a porch without clothes can be seen very easy with no problem. He intends to be seen.

[gmoney]

30. In this instance, I'd say intention is also a factor.

He didn't intend for anyone to see him, and it sounds like he didn't even think anyone could see him.

Yes, standing on your porch waving your junk at the neighbor kids isn't kosher.

Stumbling around your kitchen at crazy early o'clock is ok.

[Roon]

48. Similar thing happened to me when I was a child

An elderly couple had a son that was an adult and retarded and he flashed me one day from his front door. I told my Mother about it days later and she called the cops.The police came and made a report, but there was never charges filed.

[slampoet]

53. Front porch does not equal inside your own kitchen.

[Warren Stupidity]

56. He was in his own house. Inside. Indoors.

The original complaint had the complainer TRESPASSING ON HIS LAWN in order to be close enough to catch a glimpse.

[Lucian]

66. The guy wasn't intentionally exposing himself to the women.

And he was in his own home, not outside.

The jury was right on this one.

[rcrush]

20. I'm naked right now in solidarity

[barbtries]

52. i'm naked too

under my clothes of course

:silly:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

59. Yes! You are wearing no clothes....

except for what you have on....


(Thank you Mr. Alden for that phrase)

[MattBaggins]

63. Pics or it didn't happen

[notadmblnd]

26. Nosey neighbors

need to get lives and stop peeking in other people windows. Whether the shades are open or not, MTOB!

[TexasObserver]

27. Apparently, Gladys Kravitz reported him.

[gmoney]

31. "Abnah! ABNAH!"

Hard to believe Abner was crazy enough to marry that woman TWICE!

But I guess Samantha married the same dopey tall guy twice.

[KittyWampus]

33. Can he sue the women who brought the case against him for lawyers fees?

[TygrBright]

34. I'm naked right now under my clothes. Just sayin. n/t

[Skittles]

42. nekked AND moderating?

I WILL KICK TYGRBRIGHT ASS

[NYC_SKP]

67. Yes, Indeed!

It's naked night in da moderator hottub.

:P

[Hissyspit]

47. I've seen you naked under your clothes!

And you were in public, too!

[wroberts189]

41. What a stupid waste of time and money. Poor guy. nt

[Poll_Blind]

43. LOL: "Called 911". "Police, there is a man...with a dick...in his house...alone!! Come quick!"

PB

[progressoid]

45. A commercial driver and a school librarian...

Man, stereotypes don't get much better than that.

[druidity33]

49. ummm... that's DIVER, not driver.

but whatever.

:)

[Hissyspit]

46. Thanks for posting this! I was just thinking about the case yesterday, wondering what happened.

I believe I posted about it, a video of Rachel or Keith doing a report on it.

[old mark]

50. Just when I think I have seen the dumbest it gets, it gets dumber. nt

[Vinca]

54. This is as stupid as charging the women with being Peeping Toms.

This guy ought to take them to court for his legal fees.

[UTUSN]

65. Seldom are dudes praised or supported as much as this one has been... n/t

[pinniped]

68. They need to charge that dude whose naked reflection appears....

in that flEaBAY tea kettle picture.

[MrScorpio]

69. Common sense prevails

My thanks to that jury

[Blue_Tires]

71. He needs to sue that police department

Shortly after that encounter, the officers arrested Williamson for felony indecent exposure because a 7-year-old boy had been walking with his mother when the woman allegedly spotted him naked in the doorway to his carport. A Fairfax magistrate reduced the charge to a misdemeanor, but Williamson then had a long walk home from jail, during which he received a phone call from his boss -- also his landlord -- telling him to move out. The police were the ones who called his boss, Williamson said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/07/AR2010040704537.html