Opinion ID: 1574801
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: indecent exposure

Text: Jenkins was also convicted of indecent exposure, arising from testimony that he removed his clothing and was naked in the presence of J.S. in the shower at Falling Springs. Jenkins argues that the trial court should have granted a directed verdict on this charge. At the time of Jenkins' indictment, the indecent exposure statute read as follows: A person is guilty of indecent exposure when he intentionally exposes his genitals under circumstances in which he knows or should know his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm. KRS 510.150. [12] On a motion for directed verdict, the trial court must draw all fair and reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of the Commonwealth. Commonwealth v. Benham, 816 S.W.2d 186, 187 (Ky.1991). On appellate review, the test of a directed verdict is, if under the evidence as a whole, it would be clearly unreasonable for a jury to find guilt, only then the defendant is entitled to a directed verdict of acquittal. Id. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, Jenkins, J.S., and B.F. entered the Falling Springs locker room after swimming to take a shower. Jenkins removed his swimming trunks, and showered in the same handicapped stall as J.S., who had also removed his trunks. B.F. had removed his trunks, and started showering in a different stall, but then joined Jenkins and J.S. in the handicapped shower. There was no evidence that Jenkins removed his swimming trunks for any purpose other than to take a shower and change clothes. In addition, the boys' testimony provided no evidence that the removal of Jenkins' swimming trunks had any effect on either of them. Indeed, the two employees who were watching the three in the shower described the three as taking showers in the nude. Male nudity in a men's locker room with showers is certainly not unusual, and standing alone, it is not likely to cause affront or alarm, and is not a crime. Because the Commonwealth did not present evidence that would prove all elements of indecent exposure, only nudity in a public shower, it would be clearly unreasonable for a jury to find guilt. Accordingly, the trial court erred in denying a directed verdict on this charge. For the foregoing reasons, we reverse Jenkins' convictions and remand the case to the trial court for a new trial consistent with this opinion. MINTON, C.J.; CUNNINGHAM, NOBLE, SCHRODER, SCOTT, and VENTERS, JJ., sitting. All concur. ABRAMSON, J., not sitting.