Crime & Safety
Man Charged For Lewd Behavior On Siesta Beach
An out-of-state officer spotted a man fondling himself in front of young children on Siesta Key Beach and demanded that the man stop before calling local authorities.
A homeless man is facing charges for fondling himself in front of children on Tuesday.
Joshua Anthony McClure, 41, faces four felony counts — one for each minor child victimized — of lewd or lascivious exhibition according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. He was booked into Sarasota County Jail Tuesday where he is being held on $40,000 bond.
A law enforcement officer visiting from Indiana saw the man expose himself and masturbate when he was sitting on the beach shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to the probable cause affidavit.
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The officer told the sheriff's office that she displayed his badge to the suspect and told him to stop, and the suspect left the beach on a bike, according to the affidavit.
The witness said the suspect was in plain sight of him and four young girls ranging in age from five to 16 years old.
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Deputies found McClure a short time later on Midnight Pass Road, north of Stickney Point Road and witnesses identified him as the suspect, according to the affidavit.
The suspect appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs as he also had a glass smoking pipe on him, according to the affidavit.
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