Man allegedly stalks three young girls and pleasures himself in front of them inside Target store

(Alleged pervert Stephen Gray Padgett, 57, Image credit: Alachua County Sheriff’s Office)

On Tuesday, January 2, police in Gainesville, Florida, working in conjunction with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 57-year-old Stephen Gray Padgett and charged him with “Lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age.”

According to an announcement from the Gainesville Police Department, on December 20, 2023, Padgett entered the local Target Department Store and followed three young girls through the store.  The girls were only five through seven years old. All three of the children were accompanied by their parents.

Padgett was caught on surveillance video repeatedly attempting to get the attention of the three girls. Unbeknownst to the parents, he would expose his penis and masturbate when the girls looked at him. Padgett circled one of the girls for approximately nine minutes before gaining her attention. Once she looked at him, Padgett masturbated for almost three minutes before she left the area with her parent.

Following his arrest, Padgett was taken to the Alachua County Jail on felony charges, according to WCJB.  His bond was set at $900,000; and he is currently awaiting trial.

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(Source: Gainesville Police Department)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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