Kelowna man sentenced for exposing genitals to teens

Photo: Nicholas Johansen

A mentally ill man was sentenced Wednesday for exposing his genitals to two teenagers in Rutland last summer, but he was released after receiving credit for time served.

Jesse Nelson received a month of jail for the incident, along with another four months for entering his grandmother's Rutland home a month later, breaching a prior court order. 

Police were called to the Tim Hortons at Hollywood Road and Highway 33 on July 7, 2019 after receiving several reports of a man who was “freaking out” and kicking vehicles.

Prior to the police's arrival, the man partially pulled his pants down, “shook his genitals,” and screamed, in view of two 14 year olds.

Police officers arrived and arrested Jesse Nelson, after finding him on the second floor walkway of a nearby housing complex. He was charged with exposing his genitals to a person under the age of 16 and indecent exhibition in a public place.

On Wednesday, Nelson's defence lawyer Blaine Weststrate told the court his client suffers from bipolar schizophrenia, and since he's been in custody, he's now taking medication. Weststrate conceded that Nelson's mental health issues have been exacerbated by his drug use, but he did not elaborate.

Nelson was released on bail shortly after his arrest, but was arrested once again the following month for breaching a probation condition stemming from a conviction earlier that year.

His probation had barred him from being at his grandmother's Rutland home, after Weststrate said she had kicked him out of her house for his “behaviour.” On the afternoon of Aug. 13, Nelson entered her house, prompting her to call the police. While he left her residence, a neighbour called police shortly after and said Nelson was banging on her door, yelling that he wanted to go back to jail.

He was arrested near the Petro-Canada at Leathead Road and Highway 97 soon after.

As part of a plea deal on Wednesday, Nelson pleaded guilty to indecent exhibition in a public place, breaching his probation order and being unlawfully in a dwelling. The Crown and defence put forth a joint submission of a total sentence of five months jail, followed by a year of probation.

The judge agreed with the joint submission, and with credit for time already served, Nelson was released from custody. He assured the court that he was done using drugs.