A Trenton man accused of performing lewd acts in a Falls store is now facing charges for twice performing similar acts in a nearby popular arts and crafts supply store.
Middletown police allege that Anthony Oates, 30, masturbated in front of a female shopper at the Michael’s craft store off Route 1 on Aug. 4 shortly before doing similar actions at a Dollar Tree in Falls.
The next day, Middletown police allege that Oates returned to the Michael’s where he did it again.
The first incident occurred before 11:30 a.m. when a woman reported she noticed an unknown man, later identified as Oates, was following her as she shopped at the Michael’s, according to a probable
cause affidavit.
The woman told police she attempted to change directions to lose the man, but he continued to follow her.
At one point the woman alleged Oates was standing 10-feet from her when she noticed he was playing with the front of his shorts with his hands near his genitals, the affidavit said.
The woman decided to leave the story, but Oates allegedly followed her outside. As the woman entered her car, she saw Oates standing 10 to 20 feet away, but when he realized the woman saw him, he looked away, the affidavit said.
Falls police allege that some time after 12 p.m. on Aug. 4, two witnesses reported seeing Oates in a Dollar Tree in the 200 block of Plaza Boulevard masturbating through his shorts while making eye contact with them, then exposing himself while continuing to masturbate.
The next day, Middletown police were back at the Michael’s store when another woman reported she was shopping shortly after 3 p.m. when she noticed a man – later identified as Oates – following her throughout the store, the affidavit said.
At one point, the woman alleged, Oates was standing 6-feet from her and staring at her while lifting the bottom of his shorts and exposing his penis. He ran out of the store after the woman yelled for help.
Middletown police have charged Oates with 10 misdemeanor and summary charges including
Multiple counts of stalking, indecent exposure and open lewdness. He faces similar charges in Falls.
As of Aug. 13, Oates has not been apprehended, according to the public court docket.
What Oates was allegedly doing is called“public gooning,” which typically involves men entering a public space, such as a business, where they masturbate then expose themselves to customers, most often unconsenting women for sexual gratification or social media clout.
Since 2024, incidents have been reportedin Virginia,Houston, Philadelphia,Colorado Springs, Washington, Maryland and Georgia. A man was convicted last year in California of gooningin front of female students at two San Diego colleges.
A lawsuit in California against a popular store chain, where many reported public gooning incidents have occurred, alleges the women plaintiffs were targeted as part of a wider pattern.
Crime and Court Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Trenton man allegedly exposed himself twice at Bucks store | Exclusive
