Crime & Safety

Nokomis Man Exposed Himself at Grocery Store

He allegedly told police it was an "excitement thing" when he exposed himself to a female unloading her groceries.

A Nokomis mas was charged with indecent exposure Friday after he allegedly exposed his penis and testicles to a woman in a Sweetbay supermarket parking lot in June, according to the Venice Police Department.

James Kenneth Cochran, 45, of the 200 block of South Portia Street, was allegedly just hanging outside of the store on June 3 when he decided to whip out his genitalia, scaring the female victim and making her jump in her car and flee the scene.

Cochran was waiting for a friend who was shopping in Sweetbay, according to a report, when the victim approached after finishing her own shopping trip.

Cochran was a passenger in his friend's car. The report states Cochran was not facing the victim as she began loading her groceries into her car, but turned suddenly and revealed that not only was the zipper on his blue jeans pulled down, but his penis and testicles were sticking out of his pants.

According to the report, the woman jumped in her car and left the scene, but as she was backing out Cochran continued to flaunt his genitalia, staring at her while she drove away.

The victim phoned authorities later that day and investigators were able to locate Cochran using surveillance video and information from a Red Box DVD rental machine.

Cochran would tell investigators on June 25 that he did not expose himself deliberately to the victim, but instead "reached down and scratched" his testicles. But, Cochran would eventually admit to purposely exposing himself, telling police it was an "excitement thing" and that he was "very disappointed with himself".

Cochran was arrested Friday and transported to the Sarasota County Jail where he remains on $15,000 bond.


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