A registered sex offender who went to the sheriff's department to turn in his paperwork was arrested again, after masturbating in the office.

The 50-year-old man was charged with felony indecent exposure, accused of masturbating in front of a sheriff's employee in mid-August when he went to the service window of the Registered Sex Offender Unit. The incident was charged as a felony because he has been convicted of the crime before. The incident that was captured by video surveillance cameras. After he turned in his paperwork and exposed himself, the man left the office. He was arrested the next day in Pioneer Square, where police allege he was selling crack. After the most recent incident, he was booked into King County Jail in lieu of $145,000 bond.

The man had recently been released from jail after having been convicted of two incidents earlier this year. Twice in one week last February, the man had boarded buses, sat in the back row where he could be seen by the female bus drivers in their rearview mirrors, and fondled himself. Both times he was kicked off the buses by the drivers. In one of the incidents, he allegedly spits in the face of the driver. A third-degree assault charge is still pending in that case. Onboard cameras captured the incidents on the buses and police were able to identify the man, who is a Level 3 sex offender. He was sentenced to six months in jail, combined, for the bus incidents. He received credit for time served and was released in early August.

A sheriff's detective speculated that the man had a pattern of exposing himself to women in positions of authority.

A person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm. The act of breastfeeding or expressing breast milk is not indecent exposure.

Generally, indecent exposure is a misdemeanor. However, indecent exposure is a gross misdemeanor on the first offense if the person exposes himself or herself to a child younger than 14 years old. A gross misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Indecent exposure is a Class C felony if the person previously has been convicted of the crime or of a sex offense. A Class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

No matter the crime or the circumstances, everyone is entitled to the best defense available. If you have been arrested and face criminal charges, call the Seattle law office of Steve Karimi at (206) 621-8777 or contact him online.