Oregon made national news again – and not in a good way. A disturbing incident in Oregon has raised concerns about public indecency laws. A video of a father’s interaction with a Bend police officer went viral on social media after the man complained about a naked man approaching his 2-year-old son and the officer informed him it was legal.

The father shielded his child’s eyes and called 911, expecting swift action against the individual for indecent exposure. However, the responding officer surprised him by stating it is only a crime for an adult to expose his or her private parts to a minor when there is a sexual element to the act. But there is no law against the actual nudity exposure.

The video on tiktok shows a father asking officer Jeremy Avery with the Bend Police Department to explain why an arrest could not be made after his young child encountered a naked adult on the family’s private property.

The post has over 800,000 views waking people up to how the “letter of the law” is used to give freedom to perversion, but is ignored when people deserve freedom of speech and religion. Many replies asked who determines what gratification is.

Oregon law regarding naked exposure is outlined in ORS 163.465, which states that a person commits the crime of public indecency if, while in or in view of a public place, they perform an act that is intended to arouse or satisfy the sexual desire of any person. Indecent exposure is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $6,250.

What is considered public indecency? According to ORS 163.465, public indecency includes:

• Exposing one’s genitals with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desire of any person.
• Performing an act of sexual intercourse in a public place.
• Engaging in any other act of sexual conduct in a public place.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

While Oregon law does not explicitly prohibit public nudity, some cities and counties in Oregon have established their own laws regarding public nudity. Ordinances have been adopted, for example: Portland has a law that prohibits indecent exposure, which includes exposing one’s genitals in a public place. Lane County has a law that prohibits public nudity, except for certain events and activities that are specifically permitted.

Portland and Lane County have had incidents in the passed to instigate an ordinance. The wider the incidents the more likely state legislators will propose a law. Officer Jeremy Avery did concede that trespassing was a crime in Bend, although public nakedness was not.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-06-06 16:57:15

Last Update: 2024-06-06 18:11:22