A 23-year-old Chelan man is in custody after several children told deputies he exposed himself while sitting inside a vehicle in their neighborhood last week. The complaints triggered a lewd-conduct response in a residential part of Chelan, where multiple young victims independently described the same man and the same car. Deputies later arrested the suspect at his home, and say he faces charges related to indecent exposure and trespass.
How deputies say they found him
Chelan County deputies were dispatched to a lewd-conduct call in the area of E. Trow Ave and S. Navarre St., where several young victims reported that a man sitting in his vehicle had exposed himself, according to KIRO 7. Deputies told the outlet that the children’s descriptions of both the man and his vehicle gave them enough detail to track down the suspect and identify him for arrest.
Arrest and charges
The suspect was arrested at his home and taken into custody, and KIRO 7 reports he was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center on counts of indecent exposure to a person under 14 years of age and second-degree criminal trespass. The outlet notes the suspect is “apparently known to law enforcement from past interactions,” and deputies say the case remains under investigation.
What the law says
Under Washington law, indecent exposure is defined at RCW 9A.88.010, according to the Washington Legislature. Exposing oneself to a person under 14 is treated as a gross misdemeanor on the first offense, and repeat offenses or prior sex-offense convictions can elevate the charge to a class C felony. A separate statute, Washington Legislature, sets maximum penalties for gross misdemeanors at up to 364 days in county jail and fines up to $5,000, while a class C felony can carry substantially stiffer penalties if prosecutors pursue that level.
How to report tips
Chelan County authorities ask anyone with information about the case or similar incidents to use the sheriff’s anonymous tip form or call 911 for crimes in progress, in line with the county’s online guidance. Investigators also requested that anyone who captured photos or video preserve that material and contact the sheriff’s office so it can be reviewed.
