Published: June 20, 2008 10:09 am      

Man arrested over lingerie incident

Homeless man charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ at Wal-Mart

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

The Williamsburg Police Department arrested a man for allegedly getting a little too friendly with some of a store’s lingerie.

Thursday morning, Officer Shawn Jackson with the Williamsburg Police Department responded to a call at the Wal-Mart in Williamsburg, where he arrested 23-year-old James W. Pennington.

According to Jackson, Pennington allegedly entered a fitting room at the store with three articles of women’s lingerie. Pennington then allegedly proceeded to masturbate with the lingerie, afterwards returning the items to the store clerk.

Jackson said Pennington told police he had been transferred from the London homeless shelter to the one in Williamsburg Wednesday evening and admitted to committing the act which took place in the fitting room. Pennington also told police he was a registered sex offender, but Jackson said he was unable to confirm this through the sex offender registry.

“He was cooperative and honest,” Jackson said.

Pennington was arrested without incident and was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center. Jackson said Pennington had an extensive criminal history, including a sexually-related offense.

Jackson said the lingerie items did have bodily fluids on them and had to be destroyed. In total, the items cost $26.12. Though he gave police a reason for his actions, Pennington did not make clear why he chose the Wal-Mart store.

“He stated if he didn’t do this every once and a while, he got deathly ill,” Jackson said. “He couldn’t articulate any reason for coming to Wal-Mart.”

Jackson said store employees, in particular the store manager, were taken aback by Pennington’s alleged actions.

“He was just floored,” Jackson said.

Store employees weren’t the only ones bewildered.

“All the time I’ve been involved in emergency services, this is the weirdest and oddest situation,” he said.

Pennington is charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal mischief, both misdemeanors.