Inexperienced nudist acquitted
Inexperienced nudist acquitted, Reports confirm that inexperienced nudist Richard Sierra, who decided to join the ranks among San Franciscan nudists protesting the city-wide nudity ban back in November, was recently acquitted of indecent exposure charges. Sierra was initially charged with indecently exposing himself in public, after his alleged nervous-twitching gave one passerby the completely wrong impression. According to Sierra's attorney, the novice nudist was merely trying to make his initial jump into the world of "urban nudism," while simultaneously attempting to hide scars on his stomach. A San Francisco Superior Court jury acquitted the 48-year-old of all criminal charges on Thursday, Feb. 7.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, on November 11, 2012, a man walking his dog in San Fran's Castro District spotted Sierra among a group of naked male protestors, allegedly touching himself in a very disturbing manner. But according to Sierra, the criminal charges later brought against him were the result of a total misunderstanding. Sierra was uncomfortable exposing his full naked body in public, and he happened to be arranging himself when the passerby witnessed him "inappropriately" touching himself. The eye-witness also claims that he saw Sierra applying some sort of lubricant to his privates - Sierra testified that it was only prescription cream to treat chronic eczema on another part of his body.
Sierra's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Cindy Elias, told the court that the man walking his dog may have been distracted by Sierra's unique nudist attire. The nervous, inexperienced Sierra decided to keep his tank top on during the protest, but in order to fit in with the other naked men, he too wore jewelry on his genitals. According to Elias, Sierra attached a metal ring from a binder to his shirt and looped it over his penis. The man who pressed charges happened to catch Sierra adjusting his jewelry.
The jury deliberated for just one day before returning their verdict. Sierra was fully acquitted of the indecent exposure charges - if he had been convicted, Sierra faced up to a year in County Jail and would have been forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the District Attorney's Office, told the Chronicle that Sierra was on felony probation for assault at the time he was arrested. Bastian would not comment further on the case.
According to Public Defender Jeff Adachi, "Mr. Sierra's failed attempt at being a nudist certainly does not warrant lifetime registration as a sex offender."
FYI - San Francisco lawmakers voted 6-5 to approve a city-wide public nudity ban back in November. It went into effect on February 1, 2013. This law did not effect Sierra's case.
So it looks like Sierra won't have the chance to gain some public nudity experience and confidence,unless he takes part in the Folsom Street Fair or Bay to Breakers (two S.F. events which still allow public nudity).
Source: mstarz
