New Details In Long Island Man's Case Of Alleged Public Lewdness Emerge

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Patchogue man recently arrested exposed himself and performed a sexual act from his apartment window in view of pre-schoolers on their way home from school, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office revealed Monday.

Lawrence Gartner, 68, of Patchogue, was arraigned Monday on first-degree public lewdness and public lewdness, both misdemeanors, prosecutors said.

On March 18, Gartner exposed his genitals, performing a sexual act in front of the children who were being dismissed from the preschool, which is located directly across the street from his apartment, according to prosecutors.

Children who attend the preschool range in age from three to five years old, prosecutors said.

Gartner was arrested by Suffolk police the next day, but due to 2019 "bail reform,” the department was required to mandatorily release him on an Appearance Ticket returnable for arraignment weeks later, according to prosecutors.

Both charges Gartner faces are considered non-bail eligible under current state law, meaning that prosecutors could not ask for bail, nor could a judge set bail at the time of arraignment, prosecutors said.

Gartner was released, and his case adjourned until April 11, pending a determination on whether he should be placed on supervised release.

“This is yet another disturbing case where so-called ‘bail reform’ has failed our community," Tierney said. "After allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in front of preschool-aged children, police were required to give him an appearance ticket and my prosecutors could not even ask for bail. The so-called ‘reforms’ related to bail must be re-evaluated and modified by the New York State legislature so that defendants who pose a danger to public safety aren’t immediately released right back onto the street.”

Patch has reached out to his attorney, Denise E. Shanley of Brentwood, for comment.