A Hanson man was taken into custody after being accused of engaging in lewd conduct in front of minors, an issue that is becoming increasingly common and is stirring up concerns in several Massachusetts communities. According to a press release from the Whitman police, 59-year-old Paul St. Martin faces a charge of open and gross lewdness pertaining to an event that happened in Whitman on July 27, 2024. The victims, two underage girls, reported that St. Martin exposed himself to them after approaching in a white sedan with Indiana plates.
The incident in question, as reported by MassLive, occurred around 1:45 p.m. near Routes 18 and 27 in Whitman. Following the notification, police launched a search for the suspect, described by the girls as a man in his 50s driving the white sedan, which they were unable to locate initially. Whitman Police determined the vehicle to be a rented Chevy Malibu sedan after putting out a "be on the lookout announcement" carrying Indiana license plates, as per Boston.com.
Citing a statement from Whitman Police, Boston.com reported that St. Martin, identified as a registered level 3 sex offender, had previous convictions include rape of a child with force. The police, through their investigation, linked him to additional similar indecent exposure acts in Marshfield, Belmont, and Braintree, based on correspondences with these area police departments. Upon his arrest, St. Martin was ordered held on $10,000 bail at Brockton District Court.
During a recent arraignment following the Whitman charges, St. Martin currently remains in custody at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, as noted by Boston25News. In a public statement, Chief Hanlon praised local law enforcement for their efforts stating, "This type of behavior is disgusting and unacceptable and it will not be tolerated in our communities." Further investigation is ongoing, with the potential for additional charges as the full extent of St. Martin's actions surface across surrounding towns.
