Level 3 sex offender accused of exposing himself to juveniles on highway, several Massachusetts communities file warrant

WHITMAN — Chief Timothy Hanlon reports that the Whitman Police Department arrested and charged a Hanson man, who is a Level 3 sex offender, with Open and Gross Lewdness following an incident where he allegedly exposed himself to juvenile victims.

59-year-old Paul St. Martin of Hanson was charged with one count of Open and Gross Lewdness. He was arraigned on Monday, July 29, at Brockton District Court and ordered held on $10,000 bail and remains in custody at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility.

At approximately 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, Whitman Police Officer Robert Hoey, Sgt. David Gregory and Officer Michael Combra responded to the area of Route 18 and Route 27 for a report of a man who allegedly exposed himself to two juvenile girls. Officers searched the area but were unable to immediately locate a suspect.

Officers spoke to the juvenile victims who reported that a man in his 50s in a white sedan with Indiana license plates pulled the vehicle next to them as they were walking down the street and exposed himself. The man then drove off when the victims noticed him. The man did not say anything to the victims and did not leave his vehicle.

The victims immediately notified police and an investigation was launched.

In reviewing video surveillance footage from the area, officers determined that the suspect vehicle was a Chevy Malibu sedan. A “be on the lookout” announcement was made to area law enforcement agencies describing the incident, the suspect and the vehicle.

The following day, Detective Paul Young received notification from a nearby police department that a similar incident had occurred in their town and witnesses were able to obtain the vehicle’s license plate.

Officers determined that the vehicle had recently been rented by St. Martin and obtained his home address in Hanson.

With the assistance of Hanson Police, officers stopped St. Martin as he was pulling into the parking lot of his home and placed him under arrest.

Through their investigation and in speaking with area police departments, officers determined that St. Martin allegedly committed similar acts in Marshfield, Braintree and Belmont. Arrest warrants have been filed by the Marshfield and Braintree police departments.

“I would like to commend our officers for their excellent police work in getting the word out about this incident and collaborating with other area law enforcement agencies to identify and arrest this suspect. We thank our law enforcement partners who assisted with this investigation,” Chief Hanlon said. “This type of behavior is disgusting and unacceptable and it will not be tolerated in our communities.”