Man Accused of Indecent Exposure, Open Lewdness in Nittany Mall Restroom

A Bellefonte man is facing charges after witnesses told police he exposed his genitals and masturbated in a public restroom at the Nittany Mall.

Thomas R. Chilcoat, 61, is also accused of having methamphetamine in his possession when he was arrested by State College police on Saturday morning.

A mall patron told an officer that he entered a public restroom and encountered a naked Chilcoat, according to an affidavit of probable cause. After the witness went into a stall, Chilcoat allegedly “exposed himself by sticking his penis through the crack of the stall door,” then apologized and went into another stall.

A mall security guard told police he saw Chilcoat masturbating with no pants on. Another security guard said he separately heard Chilcoat in a stall and believed he was masturbating, and that Chilcoat exited the restroom with no pants on, according to the affidavit.

Police took Chilcoat into custody and allegedly found a glass pipe in his coat pocket. Asked if he had any drugs on him, Chilcoat produced a small bag of crystal meth weighing 0.6 grams from his wallet, police wrote.

Chilcoat was charged with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, open lewdness, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense of disorderly conduct.

He was arraigned by District Judge Donald Hahn, who set unsecured bail at $15,000.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 28.