More than 20 men on the Treasure Coast are under arrest for engaging in public sex acts at a park.
Police say another 24 are being sought following an investigation by the Martin County Sheriff's Office. All of the suspected that have been charged so far are men between the ages of 52 and 83.
A covert camera recorded the alleged crimes occurring over a period of months by 45 different men at Joe's River Park on Hutchinson Island.
Sheriff William Snyder said the public sex occurred during the daylight hours, and called it an issue of public health, public safety and quality of life.
Those arrested so far in the operation include:
- Robert Leonard, 80, of Jensen Beach, three counts exposure of sexual organs
- Robert Reo, 64, of Jensen Beach, two counts exposure sexual organs
- Rodger LeBlanc, 83, of Delaware, two counts lewd and lascivious acts
- Edward Albertson, 59, of Stuart, two counts exposure of sexual organs
- Bobby Sweatt, 60, of Port St. Lucie, two counts exposure of sexual organs
- George Conover, 66, of Jensen Beach, exposure of sexual organs
- David Ronk, 73, of Hobe Sound, lewd and lascivious behavior
- Brian McCarthy, 54, of Port St. Lucie, exposure of sexual organs
- Arthur Lindau, 64, of Jensen Beach, lewd and lascivious acts, exposure of sexual organs
- Gerald Hazelwood, 63, of Jensen Beach, exposure of sexual organs
- Ralph Sergo, 71, of Jensen Beach, two counts exposure of sexual organs
- Mathew Browne, 47, of Fort Pierce, exposure in public
- Kurt Mattila, 56, of Jensen Beach, exposure in public, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Joseph Dargis, 52, of Jensen Beach, exposure in public
- James Conway, 57, of Port St. Lucie, five counts exposure in public
- James Land, 74, of Palm City, gross lewd and lascivious behavior
- William Mcessy III, 52, of Stuart, two counts exposure in public
- Thomas Umland, 56, of Port St. Lucie, three counts exposure of sexual organs
- Steven Couzens, age and address exempt, exposure of sexual organs, gross lewd and lascivious behavior
- Ronald Russell, 74, of Port St. Lucie, public exposure
- Salvatore Lenares, 82, of Jensen Beach, three counts exposure in public
The investigation is ongoing.