Man arrrested on charges of exposing himself inside Ocala mall

Police: 71-year-old tried to get men to come to the mall for sex

OCALA, Fla. – Ocala Police say a 71-year-old man tried to use an online ad to get men to meet him for sexual encounters inside the Paddock Mall.

Police say they were tipped off to an ad placed on Craigslist by James Routson. Investigators say Routson posted he was 56-years-old and wanted to meet men at the mall for oral sex inside the food court bathrooms. The ad said he would be at the mall between 11am and 1pm Wednesday.

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Police say an officer then met Routson at the mall. Routson is then accused of following the officer into a bathroom stall, inappropriately touching him, then exposing himself.

Routson was arrested on charges of exposure of sexual organs. He was booked into the Marion County jail but bonded out Wednesday night.


About the Author

John Ambrogne is an executive producer for News 6 and has been with WKMG-TV since 2012. John graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University and has covered breaking news and major events in Central Florida since 2002.

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