Crime & Safety

Peeping Charge for Local Man in Beach Bathroom Sex Case

The Santa Monica man was among 18 arrested by the Manhattan Beach Police Department in March. Announcement of their arrests and identities was criticized by a local gay rights organization.

A Santa Monica resident is among 14 men charged with misdemeanors after a sting by Manhattan police found they were allegedly using a public restroom as meeting place for sex.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department announced in April that it had arrested 18 men after six undercover sex stings at one of the city's beachfront bathrooms. During their investigation, police alleged they found holes drilled in the partitions of the bathroom stalls, graffiti depicting graphic sexual images, and men who hung out inside and outside the restroom for long periods of time.

Isauro Benivedes, 41, of Santa Monica, was charged last month with one count of looking through a hole into the interior of a bathroom using a camera or camcorder. Other men face charges that include engaging in a lewd act, solicitation and loitering to solicit, according to a Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman.

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Only one suspect has so far been convicted. William R. Jackson of East Sussex England has pleaded no contest to engaging in a lewd act and was ordered to serve one year of probation.

That the police department released the mens' names and booking photos in announcing the arrests, and that media (including Patch), published the identifying information, drew protest from the leaders of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. They contended the men, who at the time had not yet been charged, would be publically humiliated, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Darrel Cummings, the center’s chief of staff, told the paper that media should have exercised more discretion before identifying the suspects.

Naturally we don’t condone illegal activity of any kind, but these men haven’t been proven guilty and historically, charges such as those leveled against them have involved police entrapment. Publishing their photos serves no purpose other than to humiliate and destroy their lives.

The police department began its investigation after receiving tips from Los Angeles County Lifeguards who noticed the same were making frequent and prolonged trips to the restroom at Marine Street. 

Detectives started monitoring various online chat rooms and social networking website and reportedly found discussions about the Marine Bathroom. "Based on the information gathered, MBPD learned the public restroom was being used as a meeting place for sexual activity," the department wrote in press release.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.