VALPARAISO | Authorities have charged an East Chicago man with indecently exposing himself at busy locations in Valparaiso.
Hilario Torres Jr., 32, was charged Monday with two felony counts of indecent exposure. Prosecutors also filed for a habitual offender sentence if he is convicted.
Torres has an extensive criminal history, including at least four convictions for public indecency in Lake County, as well as at least five unrelated convictions on charges ranging from auto theft to theft to obstruction of justice.
After two women reported being victims and a third said she was approached by the same man, Valparaiso police gave local newspapers the images of the suspect from a store's surveillance camera.
Two people ended up calling Valparaiso Detective Lt. Tom Horn and identifying the perpetrator as Torres, police said. One of the callers was Torres' parole officer.
Horn said he put Torres' photograph in a photo lineup and all three women who were approached in Valparaiso identified Torres as the perpetrator.
Police still are seeking Torres for arrest.
The incidents in which he now is charged occurred April 24, police said.
In one of the incidents, an 18-year-old woman told police she was sitting on a bench in the breezeway between 55 and 57 Franklin St. when a man asked if he could sit on the bench. She said he could.
The woman told police the man began asking her sexual questions, so she walked away. She told police the man followed her and exposed himself. She said he offered her $400 to let him fondle himself in front of her.
Another incident occurred at Kmart, 2801 Calumet Ave., police said. A 27-year-old Valparaiso woman told police a man approached and asked her to help pick out a pregnancy test for his girlfriend. The woman told police the man unzipped his pants, exposed himself and began fondling himself. The woman walked away and reported the incident to an employee.
A third incident occurred at the WiseWay store on U.S. 30, police said. A woman told police a man began saying things similar to what was said in the other cases. She turned away before the man exposed himself.
