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Public indecency or exposing yourself in public in Tennessee is considered a sex crime.
Additionally, an individual commits indecent exposure when he or she, in a public place or on the private premises of another, intentionally exposes his or her genitals or buttocks or engages in sexual acts and reasonably expects the acts to be viewed by others. The acts offend an ordinary viewer and are for the arousal and gratification of the individual.
An individual can also be charged with indecent exposure if he or she knowingly engages in sexual acts in his or her own residence, in the presence of a child, for the purpose of sexual arousal (Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-511).
The punishment for public indecency or indecent exposure includes fines and/or jail time. For the first or second offense, public indecency is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500. For a third or subsequent offense it is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,500 and up to 11 months and 29 days in jail.
If you are 18 or older and the victim is under 13, the misdemeanor changes from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. If you have two or more prior convictions of this crime and you are 18 or older and the victim is under 13, you will be facing a Class E felony. This charge is punishable by one to six years in prison and a fine up to $3,000. If you are convicted of three or more indecent exposure charges, you will have to register as a sex offender.
The court-ordered penalties are not the only consequences you may face if you are convicted of indecent exposure or public indecency. These types of convictions can have disastrous effects on your personal relationships and your reputation.
Lewd Conduct
In Tennessee, lewd conduct is when a person engages in unlawful sexual activity for their own sexual arousal including touching, soliciting, attempting to touch another person for sexual gratification.
Common acts of lewd conduct include but not limited to:
● Masturbation in public
● Indecent exposure
● Prostitution
● Pornography
● Sex acts in public
Lewd Conduct can be a misdemeanor or a felony and carry penalties such as jail time, fines, mandatory community service, psychological treatment, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
At Clarke Law Firm, our Murfreesboro criminal defense lawyer, David Clarke, always looks into obtaining a case dismissal and having your record expunged. If you have been charged with public indecency or indecent exposure or lewd conduct, we recommend that you speak with our Murfreesboro sex crimes attorney immediately. At Clarke Law Firm you can depend upon us to treat your situation with the utmost sensitivity. We have nearly ten years of legal experience behind us and we are proud members of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Through unique case solutions and aggressive representation our attorney at The Clarke Law Firm knows how to handle your case. Handling criminal defense and personal injury cases, we are fully prepared to handle any legal matter. Contact our attorney today and begin reviewing your case with our local law firm.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.