San Francisco Jury Exonerates Man on Indecent Exposure Charges (CA Penal Code 314)

In August, 38-year-old man (name withheld for privacy) was not paying attention to where he was answering nature’s call and frightened a young mother and her 4-year-old child.  He was arrested on charges of indecent exposure pursuant to (CA Penal Code 314).  Though recently a jury has determined that he is not guilty.

California Penal Code 314 is a vague law that many people argue is too inexact.  Others argue that this set of laws infringes upon individuals’ rights.  This may be due to the fact that California’s ‘indecent exposure’ law has remained much the same since it was put on the books in 1872.

He was exonerated in the case, claiming that he merely wished to relieve himself before returning to watching the soccer match; he did not intend to ‘flash’ or expose himself to the mother and child who happened to see him.  He thought everyone was paying as much attention to the soccer match. He could have faced up to 6 months in county jail, $1,000 fine, and most devastatingly, a lifetime registration as a sex offender.