Well in Springfield, VA you can be. Just ask Eric Williamson.
According to Williamson he was in the process of moving out and since he was home alone he decided to make some breakfast, have some coffee and pack up a few things all while being naked.
But sadly for Williamson, a lady decided to walk through his yard with her 7 year old son on the way to the bus stop and while she was in Williamson’s yard, the lady could see Williamson inside his home naked.
The lady decided to call the police.
The police were unsure what to do and called a judge and the judge decided to issue a warrant for Williamson’s arrest.
Now the police are reporting that Williamson isn’t in trouble for being naked inside his home, its being reported that he is in trouble for flaunting it. The victim I guess is claiming that Williamson was flaunting it.
Now it should be interesting to hear what her version of flaunting it means. Was it a quick peep as he walked by naked? Or did the lady keep her 7 year old son there with her to watch him flaunt?
I don’t know if I would be more embarrassed to see someone naked inside their own home or if I would be more embarrassed to be the one that stood there and watched my naked neighbor flaunt it.
At least Williamson was moving out of his house. According to Williamson there was a path that people used to cut through his yard and the lady was using that path.
So I guess the moral of the story is even though there is a short cut, there may be consciences you have to pay for taking that short cut.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the “plain view” laws in Virginia but was there really any intention to violate the law by being naked in your own home. The statute Williamson has been charged with is very clear that there has to be an intention and I’m not sure there was any intention in this case. Like it said it will all come down to how long the victim was there “peeping” on her neighbor with her 7 year old son in tow and how the victim defines flaunting it.
4 comments:
what a neat idea for a blog.
Thanks Mina
I like my blog...
AKA The Jakester
the reason for such a law is that if what you do in the privacy of your home is capable of being view by the public,or even a neighbor, your conduct may be offensive to others. If you walk around naked in your backyard, do you think that should be allowed?
Ben Pool,
Rest assured I agree with the plan view laws. I have used the same law to effect an arrest in the past.
But part of that law states that I had a legal right to be where I was.
However, in this case these people were on his property. Did they have a right to trespass on his property?
I could have agreed with the arrest more if they were on the street in front of his house or a neighbor that looked over and seen him standing there naked, but these folks were walk through his yard and happened to catch a glance of him naked.
Being naked outside is a totally different set of circumstances.
No I would not agree with him being in his back yard being naked.
But I also have no issue with people being naked inside their own home.
Have you ever been naked inside your home?
I just cannot agree with this arrest.
But thanks for the comments
AKA The Jakester
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