Charged With Indecent Exposure? Know the Law and Your Options
If you have been arrested or given a citation for Indecent Exposure, it is imperative that you hire a lawyer who routinely handles these offenses. While only a misdemeanor, Indecent Exposure is one of the worst convictions you can have on your record, as it can affect your job, family, and reputation. My goal is simple when handling these cases: get the charge dismissed and expunged from your record like it never happened. Call me at 615.783.1680 and we can discuss your options. Below is the law on Indecent Exposure in Tennessee
39-13-511. Indecent exposure. (a) (1) A person commits the offense of indecent exposure who: (A) In a public place, as defined in ง 39-11-106, or on the private premises of another, or so near thereto as to be seen from the private premises: (i) Intentionally: (a) Exposes the person's genitals or buttocks to another; or (b) Engages in sexual contact or sexual penetration as defined in ง 39-13-501; and (ii) Reasonably expects that the acts will be viewed by another and the acts: (a) Will offend an ordinary viewer; or (b) Are for the purpose of sexual arousal and gratification of the defendant; or (B) (i) Knowingly invites, entices or fraudulently induces the child of another into the person's residence for the purpose of attaining sexual arousal or gratification by intentionally engaging in the following conduct in the presence of the child: (a) Exposure of such person's genitals, buttocks or female breasts; or (b) Masturbation; or (ii) Knowingly engages in the person's own residence, in the intended presence of any child, for the defendant's sexual arousal or gratification the following intentional conduct: (a) Exposure of the person's genitals, buttocks or female breasts; or (b) Masturbation. (2) No prosecution shall be commenced for a violation of subdivision (a)(1)(B)(ii)(a) based solely upon the uncorroborated testimony of a witness who shares with the accused any of the relationships described in ง 36-3-601(5). (3) For subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) or (a)(1)(B)(ii) to apply, the defendant must be eighteen (18) years of age or older and the child victim must be less than thirteen (13) years of age. (b) (1) "Indecent exposure", as defined in subsection (a), is a Class B misdemeanor, unless subdivision (b)(2), (b)(3) or (b)(4) applies. (2) If the defendant is eighteen (18) years of age or older and the victim is under thirteen (13) years of age, indecent exposure is a Class A misdemeanor. (3) If the defendant is eighteen (18) years of age or older and the victim is under thirteen (13) years of age, and the defendant has any combination of two (2) or more prior convictions under this section or ง 39-13-517, or is a sexual offender, violent sexual offender or violent juvenile sexual offender, as defined in ง 40-39-202, the offense is a Class E felony. (4) If the defendant is eighteen (18) years of age or older and the victim is under thirteen (13) years of age, and the offense occurs on the property of any public school, private or parochial school, licensed day care center or other child care facility during a time at which a child or children are likely to be present on the property, the offense is a Class E felony. (c) (1) A person confined in a penal institution, as defined in ง 39-16-601, commits the offense of indecent exposure who with the intent to abuse, torment, harass or embarrass a guard: (A) Intentionally exposes the person's genitals or buttocks to the guard; or (B) Engages in sexual contact as defined in ง 39-13-501. (2) For purposes of this subsection (c), "guard" means any sheriff, jailer, guard, correctional officer or other authorized personnel charged with the custody of the person. (3) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a violation of this subsection (c) is a Class A misdemeanor. (d) This section does not apply to a mother who is breastfeeding her child in any location, public or private. HISTORY: Acts 1989, ch. 591, ง 1; 1990, ch. 980, ง 33; 1994, ch. 542, งง 1-3; 1998, ch. 755, ง 1; 1999, ch. 189, ง 1; 2006, ch. 617, ง 2; 2007, ch. 209, ง 1; 2009, ch. 414, งง 1, 2; 2011, ch. 91, ง 2; 2012, ch. 885, ง 1; 2012, ch. 1076, ง 1.