Man in tights and diaper gets probation
53-year-old sentenced for disrupting school wearing strange attire
By Peggy Wright, Daily Record
A 53-year-old widower, originally charged with endangering the welfare of children by hanging around day care centers and pre-schools wearing a soiled diaper and pink tights, will be supervised on probation for five years and must receive counseling under a plea he entered Tuesday.
William Rhode III of Paterson pleaded guilty in state Superior Court, Morristown, to a single count of disrupting a public meeting at the Holy Spirit Catholic elementary school in Pequannock on Feb. 12. Under questioning by defense lawyer Michael Fletcher, Rhode acknowledged that he went to the school around 3 p.m. on Feb. 12 wearing pink tights that he had defecated in. He did not specifically admit to wearing a diaper on this day, though police have said he did.
"By showing up, that tended to disrupt the meeting of the children, who were getting out of school, with their parents?" Fletcher asked. Rhode replied yes.
Rhode, who is registered with police as a Megan's Law offender because of a prior conviction for sexual contact, originally was charged with seven counts of endangering the welfare of children based on showing up at day care centers and pre-schools in Jefferson, Lincoln Park, Pequannock and Hardyston, wearing a soiled diaper visible through his pants, usually women's pink stretch pants or tights.
The disorderly persons offense to which he pleaded guilty Tuesday will satisfy the state's goal of making sure that Rhode receives counseling and is supervised for an extended period of time, Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Catherine Broderick said.
Rhode will get credit for 139 days he has spent in the Morris County jail since his arrest on Feb. 12, and was strongly advised by Superior Court Judge Salem V. Ahto to comply with all counseling recommendations. "You realize you can't dress like that and go anywhere near where the children are?" the judge asked, reminding Rhode of a condition that he is not permitted anywhere near day care centers and schools. "If you dress like that, people are going to be of the view you're doing that to get sexually aroused and that will get you in trouble."
http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/articles/news3-rhods.htm
53-year-old sentenced for disrupting school wearing strange attire
By Peggy Wright, Daily Record
A 53-year-old widower, originally charged with endangering the welfare of children by hanging around day care centers and pre-schools wearing a soiled diaper and pink tights, will be supervised on probation for five years and must receive counseling under a plea he entered Tuesday.
William Rhode III of Paterson pleaded guilty in state Superior Court, Morristown, to a single count of disrupting a public meeting at the Holy Spirit Catholic elementary school in Pequannock on Feb. 12. Under questioning by defense lawyer Michael Fletcher, Rhode acknowledged that he went to the school around 3 p.m. on Feb. 12 wearing pink tights that he had defecated in. He did not specifically admit to wearing a diaper on this day, though police have said he did.
"By showing up, that tended to disrupt the meeting of the children, who were getting out of school, with their parents?" Fletcher asked. Rhode replied yes.
Rhode, who is registered with police as a Megan's Law offender because of a prior conviction for sexual contact, originally was charged with seven counts of endangering the welfare of children based on showing up at day care centers and pre-schools in Jefferson, Lincoln Park, Pequannock and Hardyston, wearing a soiled diaper visible through his pants, usually women's pink stretch pants or tights.
The disorderly persons offense to which he pleaded guilty Tuesday will satisfy the state's goal of making sure that Rhode receives counseling and is supervised for an extended period of time, Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Catherine Broderick said.
Rhode will get credit for 139 days he has spent in the Morris County jail since his arrest on Feb. 12, and was strongly advised by Superior Court Judge Salem V. Ahto to comply with all counseling recommendations. "You realize you can't dress like that and go anywhere near where the children are?" the judge asked, reminding Rhode of a condition that he is not permitted anywhere near day care centers and schools. "If you dress like that, people are going to be of the view you're doing that to get sexually aroused and that will get you in trouble."
http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/articles/news3-rhods.htm
