Charges: Man exposed himself to girls in Virginia yard, sexually assaulted woman
A northern Minnesota man is accused of exposing himself to children and an adult in separate incidents over the course of a single day.
Logan Andrew Smitherman, of Gilbert, was charged Wednesday with three counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct related to his alleged behavior two days prior. According to the criminal complaint, the 28-year-old was seen by multiple victims throughout the city of Virginia, with more reports coming in as officers were responding to the initial call.
Here is what the charges allege:
Virginia police were initially called to a home on 5th Street South, when a woman out mowing her lawn said a man – shirtless, with a swastika tattoo on his chest and wearing red shorts – approached from behind and hit her in the buttocks. She told him to leave, but he came back twice, prompting the woman to run to a neighbor and call police.
While officers were responding to that woman's call, they received "numerous" other reports from around the town.
At another home on 5th Avenue South, a child playing in the front yard said a man matching the initial suspect's description approached and told her, "Come here." She ran to the back yard, where her younger sister was, and reported seeing the man drop his shorts and expose himself. The two girls then ran into the home and the suspect ran off.
Finally, a woman leaving Virginia High School called police when a man matching the description of the suspects in the earlier incidents ran toward her. He put his around around her and asked if she was OK. The woman stopped walking, got on her phone and said she had to get to work. She then saw the man was in the alley, told her, "Come here," and had his pants down. She ran.
Police officers arrested Smitherman a few blocks away, on the 400 block of 6th Street South.
All three charges against him - one for non-consensual sexual contact, the two others for lewd exhibition in the presence of someone under 16 - are gross misdemeanors. All carry a maximum sentence of up to one year in prison and/or a fine up to $3,000, if convicted.
Publicly available criminal records show previous convictions for assault, burglary, marijuana possession and counterfeiting currency.
