Latimer/Mayer Law Leads to 83 Arrests for Lewd Trespass in First 10 Months

News From Senator George Latimer
Assemblymember Shelley Mayer
For Release:   December 14, 2016
For More Information: Joseph Glazer, Director of Communications 518-455-2031 (or reply to this e-mail)
Latimer/Mayer Lewd Trespass Law Nabs 83 in First 10 Months
 
According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, legislation passed a year ago by Senator George Latimer and Assemblymember Shelley Mayer has led to the arrest of 83 people across New York who were charged with public lewdness while trespassing in the law’s first 10 months on the books.
 
The law specifically addresses a situation where a person enters a residential dwelling without consent and intentionally exposes themselves or commits other lewd acts in the presence of another person. It passed both houses of the state legislature during the 2015 Session, and was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on October 26, 2015.
 
The law became effective almost immediately, on November 1, 2015. Between that date and September 20, 2016, the most current date for which DCJS statistics are available, a total of 83 people were arrested under the new charge. Sixty-four of those arrests occurred in New York City, and the rest occurred in other parts of the state.
 
“A single set of events in our community brought this horrible activity to my attention,” Senator Latimer said. “I am shocked to hear that it occurs in such large numbers. These crimes are essentially an invasion of someone’s home for purposes of acting in a really lewd fashion… totally unacceptable, and now criminal, behavior.”
 
The law, formally known as New York State Penal Law Section 245.00(b)(1), makes the behavior itself a misdemeanor, and partners with the charge of burglary, which is a felony, allowing prosecutors to bring serious consequences to the table for perpetrators.
 
Assemblymember  Mayer said, "These findings show there was a pressing need for a new law to protect New York residents.  I am pleased that out of such an awful event in our community, we were able to pass a law protecting so many.”
 
Joseph A. Glazer Director of Communications Office of Senator George Latimer 518-455-2039