Exposing yourself to others can be something that occurs in a wide range of scenarios. You might playfully "moon" your friends by exposing your backside, for example, and this is a situation in which no one is likely to take offense. At the other end of the spectrum are those who expose themselves to others in order to seek sexual gratification. Such individuals can often earn — and deservedly so — a charge of indecent exposure.
Hearing about indecent exposure charges may make you worried that something innocent could lead to a charge. In most circumstances, it will not. Here are three scenarios in which you shouldn't have to worry about indecent exposure charges.
You Had A Wardrobe Malfunction
Wardrobe malfunctions can happen in public, thus leading to an instance in which a private part of your body becomes visible to others. A key element of an indecent exposure charge is that you had to willingly expose yourself. For example, if you were walking down the street while wearing a short skirt and you tripped and fell, causing your skirt to slide up and people to see your privates, this is unlikely to lead to a charge. The same goes for perhaps losing part of your swimsuit temporarily at a public pool because it slipped off your torso.
Someone Barged In On You
When you're in a private area, you have a reasonable expectation of privacy. For example, perhaps you're at a campground and are using the portable toilet, but in your haste to enter it, you neglected to lock the door. It's possible for someone else to then open the door and possibly witness you standing with your pants down. This person may be upset at you for not locking the door, but even if he or she were to call the police, it's unlikely that you'd be charged with indecent exposure.
You Were A Victim
It's possible for you to inadvertently expose yourself to others as a victim of unfortunate circumstances. For example, if you were dining at a restaurant and a candle tipped over onto you and set your clothing on fire, you might scramble to tear the clothing off to avoid being severely burned. In the process, it's possible that you could expose yourself to others, but there's no intent here. If you have been charged with indecent exposure following any scenario, be sure to hire an attorney who specializes in misdemeanor offenses.
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