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Police charge streakers with indecent exposure

Streakers beware: The police don't always look the other way.

Three University students were stopped on the Lawn early Sunday morning and charged with indecent exposure.

"An officer observed people running nude down the Lawn" and proceeded to give them a citation, University Police Capt. Michael Coleman said.

The students, who were streaking the Lawn, received the citation at 12:49 a.m. Sunday, Coleman said.

Police cited fourth-year College students Erich J. Wasserman, Aaron J. Wyse and Benjamin M. McCoy.

Three other streakers who were not University students also were cited.

The maximum punishment for indecent exposure, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, is one year in jail or a $2,500 fine, Coleman said.

University Police discourage streaking because "it is against the law and puts [students] in harm's way," he said.

Although Coleman said police do not have statistics regarding indecent exposure citations occurring on the Lawn, there have been no other citations for indecent exposure on the Lawn this year, according to online police reports.

University Historian Raymond Bice said students began regularly streaking the Lawn the mid-'80s, but police rarely interfered.

"I don't think [there were citations] very often at all," Bice said.

Ben Jamieson, fourth-year College student and Lawn resident, said he has witnessed police officers "keep on walking" rather than apprehend streakers.

Jamieson said streakers rarely bother him, and usually are entertaining for Lawn residents.

"It doesn't disturb us," he said.

The students' trial will be heard in Albemarle General District Court Dec. 12.

Wyse and McCoy could not be reached for comment. Wasserman declined to comment.

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