Posted on 06/19/2002 4:05:27 AM PDT by GailA
The Kingsport Times 6/19/02
Florida police outline girls' indecent exposure allegations against Westmoreland
By BECKY CAMPBELL and TIM WHALEY
KINGSPORT - State Rep. Keith Westmoreland allegedly tried to hit a security officer who stopped him at a Florida hotel following reports he'd exposed himself to juvenile girls, according to one witness account of his arrest.
The statement was one of three filed in addition to three affidavits of complaint that detail how Westmoreland allegedly exposed himself to at least three young girls at a hot tub and pool. A press release from the Walton County, Fla., Sheriff's Office late Monday said Westmoreland walked around the pool area naked for more than an hour, but Walton County court documents released Tuesday do not support that statement.
Three girls filed court complaints stating they weren't sure if a man who exposed himself to them at a Florida hotel pool did so intentionally until it happened repeatedly.
The man was later identified by police as Westmoreland, who was apparently vacationing near Miramar Beach, Fla.
He was arrested June 15 and charged with seven counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to someone under age 16. The charges, according to Westmoreland's arrest report, are felonies in Florida.
Westmoreland's attorney, William K. Jennings, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., issued a statement on Westmoreland's behalf Tuesday.
"Representative Westmoreland is a highly respected member of the Tennessee legislature, and he has for many years been a strong advocate for the interests of children," Jennings said. "In this country, in contrast to most of the rest of the world's countries, a person should not be considered guilty merely because charges have been brought against him. Guilt should not be determined by gossip and innuendo."
The alleged exposure occurred on three different days but involved some of the same victims, according to statements filed in the Walton County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
All personal information about the juveniles involved was deleted from the court papers.
Two of the alleged victims stated they were in a hot tub at the San Destin, Fla., Hilton on June 12 when a man wearing sunglasses and blue shorts and smoking a cigar sat on the top ledge of the tub.
"He adjusted himself by moving the shorts to the side and opening his legs. He exposed himself to me to see,'' according to one statement given to police.
The girl stated that when an adult entered the hot tub, the man closed his legs.
The girl's friend said they didn't say anything "because we did not want to embarrass him.''
The following night, the girls were in the hot tub again with a third friend. The same man - later identified as Westmoreland - was there, so the girls went to the pool outside. They all stated they felt like the man was following them because they would go from the hot tub area to the pool and he would come into the same area after they did.
They said he sat on the edge of the hot tub and "he intentionally moved his shorts to where his privates would be exposed. We looked at his face through his sunglasses. We saw his eyes staring directly at us, so we left,'' one girl stated.
On June 14, the three girls were again at the hot tub and the man was there doing the same thing, they stated.
That night, a security officer was in the area, and the girls told her what was happening. According to other witness statements, the man had his hand on his crotch and sat with his legs spread for at least 15 minutes.
When officers arrived on the third day to investigate a report of a man exposing himself, Westmoreland allegedly resisted.
A hotel security officer said the "suspect became physical'' and was "restrained.''
Another statement from an officer indicated Westmoreland nearly hit him and another officer.
"The male suspect then swung his ... arm, trying to hit (an officer). I stepped back because if I had not he would have hit me. The deputy then had control and placed handcuffs on suspect,'' the statement reads.
Officers have not filed assault charges.
Westmoreland was released on $3,500 bond and ordered to appear in court July 16 at 9 a.m. in DeFuniak Springs.
Make that "for the interests in children...
Very sad, if true.
FMCDH
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