A Delaware man is facing serious charges after police say he exposed himself to a child inside the Marysville Municipal Pool locker room on Tuesday evening. City officials say the young person was not physically hurt, and they are crediting the child's quick report to staff, along with employees' fast response, for getting the case into detectives' hands within hours.
Marysville Police were called to the Municipal Pool at 7:51 p.m. According to a news release from Chief Tony Brooks, pool employees and a juvenile told officers that an unidentified man had exposed himself and made obscene gestures toward the youth in the locker room. The man left before officers arrived, but investigators gathered a description of his vehicle, developed a suspect, and identified him as 43-year-old Namon Joshua IV of Delaware, Ovhio. Detectives arrested Joshua in Delaware on Wednesday with help from Delaware Police. He is charged with kidnapping (a second-degree felony), public indecency, and importuning (both fifth-degree felonies), and his arraignment is scheduled for today, as reported by MyFox28 Columbus.
The incident unfolded at the Marysville Municipal Pool at 510 Park Ave., the city's main summer aquatics hub. The facility lists daily open-swim hours and lifeguard coverage on its Parks & Recreation page and features slides, diving boards and locker rooms, which puts a premium on staff training and reporting procedures to keep patrons safe. City materials also note that visitors are required to enter through the main entrance and sign in when they arrive.
What the charges mean
Under Ohio law, kidnapping is typically a first-degree felony but can be charged as a second-degree felony if the offender releases the victim unharmed. The statute sets out several types of conduct that qualify as kidnapping. Public indecency covers exposing private parts in view of others and can be treated as a misdemeanor or elevated to a felony when minors are involved. Importuning, which involves soliciting sexual activity with a minor, is separately criminalized under state law. For full statutory language and potential penalties, see the Ohio Revised Code on kidnapping R.C. 2905.01 and public indecency R.C. 2907.09.
Marysville police praised the child for immediately going to a trusted adult and commended pool staff for stepping in quickly, saying those actions "ensured the victim's safety and led to the suspect's arrest," according to the department's statement. Officials are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Marysville Division of Police. The department's summary of the case was detailed in local coverage by MyFox28 Columbus.
