A 47-year-old man was arrested twice in Boulder on the same day last Monday, first for allegedly exposing himself near 20th and Pearl streets, then again hours later after witnesses say he charged at a woman walking her dog, kicked at moving cars, and exposed himself to elementary school students stepping off a school bus near Valmont Bike Park.
A Morning Arrest, Then a Quick Release
The City of Boulder identified the suspect as Charles Boswell, who was first arrested around 9 a.m. last Monday after a bystander reported him exposing his genitals near 20th and Pearl streets and raised concerns for the safety of local women and children, according to the City of Boulder. He was booked on a public indecency charge and released the same day, before the afternoon incident unfolded. The Denver Post reported that he received a court date following that first arrest.
Boswell's release was not unusual under Colorado law. C.R.S. § 16-4-113(1) specifies release on personal recognizance for charges whose maximum penalty does not exceed six months, subject to listed exceptions; subsection (2) addresses monetary conditions for petty offenses and certain other charges, with additional qualifications, per Justia Law. A first-offense public indecency conviction involving genital exposure is classified as only a petty offense in Colorado, carrying a maximum of six months in jail and a $500 fine, according to the Sawyer Legal Group.
Second Incident Near the Jail and a Bike Park
The afternoon incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. at Valmont and Airport roads near Valmont Bike Park, which sits directly south of the Boulder County Jail at 3200 Airport Road, the same facility that processed Boswell's release that morning. Witnesses reported that he shouted and charged at a woman walking her dog with his fists raised, then ran into traffic and kicked at moving cars, forcing drivers to swerve to avoid hitting him, the city's account notes. He then pulled down his pants and exposed himself to elementary school students who were getting off a Boulder Valley School District bus.
Boulder Police Media Relations Officer Jennifer Ciplet said officers are actively working with the school district to notify the families of students who may have witnessed the incident. The Denver Post's reporting, drawn from the same release, indicates Boswell was taken back into custody and booked a second time on public indecency, disorderly conduct, and reckless endangerment charges. Jail records cited by the Post show he remains held on $7,500 bail.
What Happens Next Legally
Prosecutors could pursue a steeper charge if they choose. Colorado law under C.R.S. § 18-7-302 allows exposure offenses to be elevated to a class 6 felony when an adult knowingly exposes their genitals in view of a child under 15 who is more than four years younger than the offender, a threshold Hoodline has previously outlined in a similar Colorado case. Repeat public indecency convictions can also be elevated to a class 1 misdemeanor, which can trigger sex offender registration and treatment mandates, according to the Sawyer Legal Group.
Boulder County's jail relies on an onsite Bond Commissioners Unit, staffed seven days a week, that conducts pretrial assessments, per Boulder County. Statewide, House Bill 21-1280 requires detention facilities to hold bond hearings within 48 hours of booking and to physically process released inmates out within six hours of meeting release conditions, according to Moor Law. Boswell was released after his first arrest, and the second incident took place near the jail.
Police Seek Witnesses
Detective John Sailer is collecting additional tips from anyone who witnessed either incident at 303-441-1830. Police are also working to identify and notify families of the students who were on the bus. The Denver Post reported that it did not name the man in its initial coverage because he had not yet been charged with any felonies, before the City of Boulder's own release identified him as Charles Boswell.
