VA - Eric Williamson for indecent exposure, Springfield, 2009

[kgeaux]

I've only seen one roommate's name in the paper as if he's speaking for all of them. It just makes the whole roommate angle come off as hearsay IMO.

If the mother and son were in his yard then they are in the wrong. I would hope the law protects us from "peeping toms." And if he could not be viewed from the bus stop, then the accusation of him exposing himself to children is unfounded. Has it ever been determined if he was visible from the bus stop?

Honestly, I think the curtains are a non-issue. As the only person in the home, and witness to the state of the curtains, is the accused. I doubt he put them up after the cops came by since the reports make it sound as if he was arrested at that point.

Good day to you too! The day started out gray and dreary here in Northern Virginia but now the sun is out.

I have read two articles with direct quotes from "a roommate." One quote is talking about Williamson running around the house with nothing but a hard hat on, the other is talking about the curtains being installed at some point after they left for work. Truly, I don't know if it is one roommate making both statements, or two roommates making one statement each. The words of the roommate(s) were put into quotations, meaning the reporter is using a direct quote.

The latest articles have stated that the woman and her child walked up a path that ran alongside of the house, saw him standing in the open carport door after hearing a noise, then from the sidewalk saw him in the open front windows. Earlier reports put the woman and child cutting through the front yard. I hate it when news reports contradict each other, and I'm not sure which version (if any) is correct. It has been noted that his house has a tiny yard---I'm picturing a garden home---with a very small front yard.

Although I totally support a person's right to be comfortable in his own skin, in his own home, I wonder how many of us would run around for three and a half hours with no clothes on with all our blinds pulled up, our drapes open, our doors open? With our lights on inside the house and a sidewalk just feet away from the windows? How many of us would grab our cup of coffee and stand in an open doorway to gaze outside? It just seems to me that a reasonable person would know that if others came by they'd be able to see him. As I've said, I don't know if this guy is just so free with his nudity that it never occurred to him that others might not appreciate the sight of him, or so stupid as to be unaware that the potential was there for others to see him if he stood in an open doorway or before an uncurtained window. I don't know if he meant to expose himself to children, but I suspect he was cognizant of the fact that passersby could see into his home. Whether that is enough to constitute intent, I don't know.

The curtains probably are a non-issue. I may have projected a little of my own thought patterns into my opinion!

Glad your sun is shining: it is shining here, too!

 

[drip~drop]

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and
sadly rather true.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common
Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for
sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago
lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as
having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- why the early bird gets the worm;
- life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies
(don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies
(adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when
well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in
place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual
harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from
school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired
for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his
condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for
doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in
disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get
parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a
student; but could not inform parents when a student became
pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became
businesses; and criminals received better treatment than
their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend
yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar
could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman
failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She
spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge
settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth
and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter,
Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was
gone.

This is excellent and deserves another go-round! :twocents:

 

[Ms.Heather]

OK, Its been a couple days since this has had postings, but I wanted to chime in here with my own embarrassing story to tell....
When my house is teenager-free both me and my H walk around nude. Always have. We sleep nude, wake up nude and yes make coffee nude. Its our home, we do what we want.
About a year ago a cop knocked at our door at about 4 in the morning, we were dead sleeping and it woke us up. Apparently my H was thirsty in the middle of the night and went into the kitchen... without him knowing the patio curtains were open about a foot and the kitchen light came on, and bam... someone saw my hubby nekkid and called the cops. The way my house is laid out, my patio and living space is on the 2nd floor... so in order to see in my home, you need to look up... if you are walking with your head facing forward you can't see inside that part of the house... So you have to be a nosy person to see inside. Nothing came of it, the cop laughed it off and just told my H to make sure the blinds were drawn before going to bed. My husband said its his house and until someone else pays the mortgage and property taxes he'll do what he pleases.

I don't know whats going on in this case, he was in front of the window, at the opening of the door, it was 530 it was 830... whatever. Its a waste of resources. Stop looking into peoples windows, and maybe you won't see people walking around naked!!!

Oh and BTW, for Christmas last year hubby and I both bought eachother robes...

 

[tlcya]

Huh??

Just stumbled upon this thread and I am dumbfounded. I also need to seriously reconsider the whole stumble down to the coffee pot naked or mostly so routine I've had going!

Sure don't need to end up in jail. That might be tough to explain to my younguns.

Unless he knew they were there, pressed up against the window with his wee winky out for all the world to see: How on earth are the gonna put him in jail for this? Is he planning to press charges against mommy and tot for trespassing and being peeing thomasina?

 

[kgeaux]

Huh??

Just stumbled upon this thread and I am dumbfounded. I also need to seriously reconsider the whole stumble down to the coffee pot naked or mostly so routine I've had going!

Sure don't need to end up in jail. That might be tough to explain to my younguns.

Unless he knew they were there, pressed up against the window with his wee winky out for all the world to see: How on earth are the gonna put him in jail for this? Is he planning to press charges against mommy and tot for trespassing and being peeing thomasina?

ticox, would you stumble to your kitchen to make coffee in the nude with no curtains on any of your windows? Would you open your carport door and stand there in the nude sipping on your cup of coffee? (Remember, a carport doesn't have the door that a garage would have. It is open.) Would you stand there nude if your home was in a neighborhood and a walking path ran up the carport side of your home? In broad daylight? With a school bus stop right near your home?

There is absolutely no indication that the woman and her son pressed up against his window to see him. In fact, their first sight of his naky body was as he stood in the open doorway to his carport.

I am all for freedom in our own homes, but that freedom comes with a certain responsibility. It is reasonable that we have some expectation of privacy, but if you want privacy, you must close your doors and curtains. If he had "forgotten" the curtains were open, that's one thing, but there were NO curtains installed at the time.......it just wasn't reasonable for this man to assume he wouldn't be seen.

 

[stilettos]

ticox, would you stumble to your kitchen to make coffee in the nude with no curtains on any of your windows? Would you open your carport door and stand there in the nude sipping on your cup of coffee? (Remember, a carport doesn't have the door that a garage would have. It is open.) Would you stand there nude if your home was in a neighborhood and a walking path ran up the carport side of your home? In broad daylight? With a school bus stop right near your home?

There is absolutely no indication that the woman and her son pressed up against his window to see him. In fact, their first sight of his naky body was as he stood in the open doorway to his carport.

I am all for freedom in our own homes, but that freedom comes with a certain responsibility. It is reasonable that we have some expectation of privacy, but if you want privacy, you must close your doors and curtains. If he had "forgotten" the curtains were open, that's one thing, but there were NO curtains installed at the time.......it just wasn't reasonable for this man to assume he wouldn't be seen.

Standing in the open door naked and waving the winkie....problem. BUT has no one ever had to go to the door at 4:00am to let Rover (actually it is Scooby) out and stood with your body shielded by the door to hide your naked behind? I mean...I guess I have to rethink my whole attitude. I am no flasher...never streaked, never skinny dipped...but at home...after the kids grew up....well...clothing is optional after bedtime. My kids have never seen me naked...never...I try not to be seen naked (well except for Mr Shoes)...but in my home...I kinda like the freedom to "air dry". Oh well, freedoms are vanishing.....and IF he was flashing...throw the book at him.

 

[STEADFAST]

Some nice woman and her innocent little boy are walking to school at 8:30 am on a public walkway. Their attention is captured by a noise coming from a naked man wearing a hard hat, standing in a doorway near the path. When the woman screams, and then hurries along the path to the front sidewalk with her son, the man moves to a front, floor-to-ceiling window to expose himself further. I can see why he would be prosecuted.

There are links to this version of events all throughout the thread. There are NO links to any version that says she peeped into his windows or purposely tried to see him naked.

 

[tlcya]

ticox, would you stumble to your kitchen to make coffee in the nude with no curtains on any of your windows?

Yep, have done so, however as to the answers to the rest of your questions, nope.

Guess it depends on how your house is situated and where your coffee pot is in relation to the rest of your neighbors/trespassing passerbys.

 

[STEADFAST]

Yep, have done so, however as to the answers to the rest of your questions, nope.

Guess it depends on how your house is situated and where your coffee pot is in relation to the rest of your neighbors/trespassing passerbys.

Just wanted to point out that the whole 5:30 a.m. coffee-making scenario is just the first version that Mr. Williamson put out. He has since admitted that she could have seen him naked at any time during a roughly 3 hour period and he claims to have no idea when she might have seen him. Her complaint did not mention that he was making coffee, and she gave the time as around 8:30 a.m. Most of the details of the early version he gave the press have since been contradicted by his roommates and himself.

 

[gxm]

Some nice woman and her innocent little boy are walking to school at 8:30 am on a public walkway. Their attention is captured by a noise coming from a naked man wearing a hard hat, standing in a doorway near the path. When the woman screams, and then hurries along the path to the front sidewalk with her son, the man moves to a front, floor-to-ceiling window to expose himself further. I can see why he would be prosecuted.

There are links to this version of events all throughout the thread. There are NO links to any version that says she peeped into his windows or purposely tried to see him naked.

Actually, there are links to his version of events which basically comes down to him not knowing when she looked into his house, either through a doorway or a window, to catch him naked. If he didn't know when she saw him, then he couldn't have intentionally exposed himself. There is also a link showing a photo of the obscured front window that would be difficult to see into unless one was trying to peer inside. And, to the best of my knowledge, photos of the alleged doorway have not been publicized.

The fact is that the man was not outside. He was in his own home so she had to look through his window to see him. If she'd kept her eyes on the path, then she wouldn't have seen him. I really can't understand why anyone would be offended by accidentally looking into another person's house and catching them in the buff. Embarrassed at invading their privacy maybe but this woman's reaction is, IMO, absurd. (The lady doth protest too much.) And if she weren't a cop's wife, I find it hard to believe the man would have been arrested. A warning should have sufficed.

 

[easttexas]

Note to self....bring all clothing from dryer needed for next day from this day forward lest I may take an unadorned trip to the laundry room past a bay window that over looks my back yard....PRIVATELY fenced. I think he should be able to counter sue for peeping tom....

Someone had a link that showed his window....but before the video an ad ran for Window World....Double Hung
Talk about perfect ad placement!!!!! LMAO!!!!

 

[STEADFAST]

Actually, there are links to his version of events which basically comes down to him not knowing when she looked into his house, either through a doorway or a window, to catch him naked. If he didn't know when she saw him, then he couldn't have intentionally exposed himself. There is also a link showing a photo of the obscured front window that would be difficult to see into unless one was trying to peer inside. And, to the best of my knowledge, photos of the alleged doorway have not been publicized.

The fact is that the man was not outside. He was in his own home so she had to look through his window to see him. If she'd kept her eyes on the path, then she wouldn't have seen him. I really can't understand why anyone would be offended by accidentally looking into another person's house and catching them in the buff. Embarrassed at invading their privacy maybe but this woman's reaction is, IMO, absurd. (The lady doth protest too much.) And if she weren't a cop's wife, I find it hard to believe the man would have been arrested. A warning should have sufficed.

The issue isn't whether she saw him; it's whether the child saw him. I really don't think it's feasible to ask children to keep their eyes on the path in case some man flashes them from a doorway.
Mr. Williamson is the one who brought this issue to the press, and he (or his attorney) was very clever. He put out the misinformation about making coffee when seen, it being dark, his just having gotten up, the woman and child walking on his property, and it caught on like wild fire. Never mind that later all those elements turned out not to have been true. His story has hit a nerve with people who will never get their first impression of what happened out of their minds, no matter what information has come out later.

 

[kgeaux]

The issue isn't whether she saw him; it's whether the child saw him. I really don't think it's feasible to ask children to keep their eyes on the path in case some man flashes them from a doorway.
Mr. Williamson is the one who brought this issue to the press, and he (or his attorney) was very clever. He put out the misinformation about making coffee when seen, it being dark, his just having gotten up, the woman and child walking on his property, and it caught on like wild fire. Never mind that later all those elements turned out not to have been true. His story has hit a nerve with people who will never get their first impression of what happened out of their minds, no matter what information has come out later.

Ah, Steadfast! You INSIST on sticking to the facts! God bless!

 

[gxm]

The issue isn't whether she saw him; it's whether the child saw him. I really don't think it's feasible to ask children to keep their eyes on the path in case some man flashes them from a doorway.
Mr. Williamson is the one who brought this issue to the press, and he (or his attorney) was very clever. He put out the misinformation about making coffee when seen, it being dark, his just having gotten up, the woman and child walking on his property, and it caught on like wild fire. Never mind that later all those elements turned out not to have been true. His story has hit a nerve with people who will never get their first impression of what happened out of their minds, no matter what information has come out later.

I don't believe this is the case. For one thing, unless Mr. Williamson was doing something lewd, the boy saw nothing more than what he would see in the Y or the swimming pool locker room.

The facts as best I can tell:

- Williamson was walking around his house naked. To date there has been no evidence that he was outside of his home, or that he was aware anyone ever saw him.

- After first seeing Williamson in a side doorway once, the mother admits to taking a second look through a front window. (The normal reaction IMO would be to avert one's eyes after the first sighting.)

- Photographs show the window in question to be obscured by shrubbery. The media have not published, to the best of my knowledge, photos of the side door.

- The Wednesday after Williamson was arrested, officers put fliers around the neighborhood asking if anyone else saw him nude. IMO, they are really trying to pin something on this guy.

On Wednesday, after Williamson had left for his mother's house, police handed out fliers in the neighborhood asking people to report anything about the incident or others like it. One of Williamson's roommates, who declined to give his name, said that he and the four other men living in the house felt less sympathy than anger now that they are left to make peace with neighbors and answer reporters' questions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...2.html?hpid=moreheadlines&sid=ST2009102601282

By Williamson's account, FIVE officers showed up at his house to search his belongings and one went so far as to call him a pervert. Isn't that a bit extreme? Five officers with tasers for one naked guy walking around his house?

Honestly, this case is looking pretty ridiculous and I'm guessing LE is working their butts off trying to come up with enough evidence so as not to look frivolous. IMO, their only hope is that Williamson does something stupid in the interim or shows up in court in nothing but a hard hat.

 

[Danaya]

When I first heard about this, the first thing that came to mind is it wasn't the whole story. I thought that maybe the man purposely stood in front of a window to expose himself to a child or passerby. This has happened to my husband as a child and also to my Mom as a teen-people are so sickening, they get their kicks out of flashing themselves, it's awful. Is it okay for me to go up to my window and pose naked as somebody walks by? Keep in mind, this isn't Amsterdam.

 

[easttexas]

When I first heard about this, the first thing that came to mind is it wasn't the whole story. I thought that maybe the man purposely stood in front of a window to expose himself to a child or passerby. This has happened to my husband as a child and also to my Mom as a teen-people are so sickening, they get their kicks out of flashing themselves, it's awful. Is it okay for me to go up to my window and pose naked as somebody walks by? Keep in mind, this isn't Amsterdam.

At 5:30 am??? He was waiting for someone to pass by? I could be wrong about the time but know I saw it mentioned that the time as 5:30 AM....by the way...I have been exposed to something similar I didn't call the cops and I chose to never walk past that particular path again.

 

[kgeaux]

At 5:30 am??? He was waiting for someone to pass by? I could be wrong about the time but know I saw it mentioned that the time as 5:30 AM....by the way...I have been exposed to something similar I didn't call the cops and I chose to never walk past that particular path again.

WILLIAMSON said it happened at 5:30 AM. The report states that it happened between 8:30 and 8:40 AM. Full daylight. No curtains in his windows. He is first seen standing in an open doorway, next seen standing next to the window. There is a school bus stop nearby, and this mother was walking her young son to the bus stop.

Frankly, I have been shocked at how many continue to support Williamson, even after his initial story was proven to be untrue. Usually on Websleuths, the slant is guilty until proven innocent. Here we have a man who knowingly stood in an open doorway and then right next to his front uncurtained window in the NUDE, while it was daylight outside. This man is not an idiot. To stand in front of a window or open doorway at 8:30 in the morning, he had to have known he did not have an expectation of privacy.

I can guarantee y'all if anyone wants to try to replicate his actions, and you are seen by a child, you will be arrested. Try it. Take down your curtains, strip yourself down to your birthday suit, grab a cup of coffee and go stand right in front of your front window at 8:30 AM. People who have no curtains, whose carport door is facing a walkway area do NOT have the same rights to walk around their homes naked, exposing themselves to the public. Personal rights take a back seat when they impact public rights.

This guy may have just had a bad, bad day and made an unfortunate decision. But I for one am awfully glad that the police are going to determine if he has exposed himself to other children. Because this guy might just be working his way up to pedophilia.

 

[Vegas Bride]

I wonder if there has been an increase in sales for window coverings since this story hit the wires?
We have blinds on all our windows and they are not open in the morning until after I'm dressed, I don't even want someone seeing me in my nightgown.

VB

 

[stilettos]

WILLIAMSON said it happened at 5:30 AM. The report states that it happened between 8:30 and 8:40 AM. Full daylight. No curtains in his windows. He is first seen standing in an open doorway, next seen standing next to the window. There is a school bus stop nearby, and this mother was walking her young son to the bus stop.

Frankly, I have been shocked at how many continue to support Williamson, even after his initial story was proven to be untrue. Usually on Websleuths, the slant is guilty until proven innocent. Here we have a man who knowingly stood in an open doorway and then right next to his front uncurtained window in the NUDE, while it was daylight outside. This man is not an idiot. To stand in front of a window or open doorway at 8:30 in the morning, he had to have known he did not have an expectation of privacy.

I can guarantee y'all if anyone wants to try to replicate his actions, and you are seen by a child, you will be arrested. Try it. Take down your curtains, strip yourself down to your birthday suit, grab a cup of coffee and go stand right in front of your front window at 8:30 AM. People who have no curtains, whose carport door is facing a walkway area do NOT have the same rights to walk around their homes naked, exposing themselves to the public. Personal rights take a back seat when they impact public rights.

This guy may have just had a bad, bad day and made an unfortunate decision. But I for one am awfully glad that the police are going to determine if he has exposed himself to other children. Because this guy might just be working his way up to pedophilia.

I agree that as you have stated events in your post....that this is exteremely inappropriate behavior. I think the issue is one's freedom to bare or not in your own home, hitting a little too close for comfort. If it happened that way, he should be charged. I just hope no one trespasses in my wooded backyard one night after I have retired early and need another drink.....cause they would see a naked 47 year old run through the living room to the kitchen. Granted I would not turn on the lights and stand in a doorway or in front of the windows. I also wear a gown when hub is out of town....in case of fire. :floorlaugh:

 

[gxm]

IMO, the fact that he didn't know what time the woman alleges she spied him only reinforces his story that he didn't know anyone saw him. Personally, I think it's odd behavior to see someone naked in their own home and then keep looking… from different vantage points even!