There are a lot of ways to handle a door-to-door salesman. This one may not be the best idea.
Police say a door-to-door magazine salesman got quite a surprise when he knocked on a door at the Almonte Apartments in Oklahoma City. The residentopened the door, invited him in, and signed up for a magazine subscription--but the sale is not the surprise.
After the man ordered his subscription, the salesman says, he stood up, stripped off all of his clothes, and asked the salesman to perform sex acts.
The salesman left the apartment, but said that the man, identified as 20-year-old Colin Maher, began calling his cell phone and following him around theapartment complex. When he began feeling harassed, the salesman called police. When police arrived, they spoke with Maher, who denied followingor calling the magazine salesman. He allegedly told police that his "religion requires him to be naked." Police say he told them that he had been naked in his own homeprior to the salesman's arrival, and that he had planned on returning to a state of undress when the salesman departed.
Police arrested Maher on a complaints of indecent exposure and offering to engage in an act of lewdness. However, when they placed him in the patrol vehicle,he allegedly kicked out a window, adding a complaint of destruction of property to the charges against him.
Offering to engage in an act of lewdness is described in the state law that covers prostitution and solicitation of prostitution (21 O.S.� 1029).It is a misdemeanor punishable by 30 days to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Indecent exposure, however, is a much more serious offense. Under 21 O.S. � 1021,indecent exposure is a felony sex crime. Depending on the severity of the offense, conviction is punishable by 30 days to 10 years in prison. Themost serious consequence of an indecent exposure conviction may not be the associated prison sentence, however. It is a Level One sex offense, whichmeans that anyone convicted must register as an Oklahoma Sex Offender for a term of 15 years after the completion of his or her sentence.
Sex offender registration brings significant restrictions for housing, recreation, and employment. It also carries a stigma that can be difficult to overcome.Because of the registration requirements, information about the conviction is publicly available, which means that during the span of registration--15years, 25 years, or a lifetime--anyone can find out about the conviction.
Being accused of any sex crime is serious business that can have lifelong implications. If you are questioned or arrested, call a sex crimes defense lawyeras soon as possible.
