BERKELEY – A man who was arrested half a dozen times on child molestation and indecent exposure charges last year was arrested on similar charges again last week—a day after he failed to appear in court for sentencing on a probation violation.
37-year-old Berkeley resident William N. Turner was arrested his seventh time on February 14 at 8:38 a.m. on University Avenue near Chestnut Street.
Police were on the lookout for Turner because he’d missed a scheduled court appearance. He was expected to be sentenced then for violating probation regarding an indecent exposure conviction for pulling his pants down in front of a young mother last September.
One day before being arrested again, Turner was identified as being a suspicious person in two separate reports received by the police from a resident who spotted him close to a children’s playground, and later by a YWCA staff member who recognized Turner from photos distributed by the police.
Turner was reportedly seen trespassing on the front porch of a home located on 2700 block Park Street, near a children’s playground at San Pablo Park.
A few hours later Turner reportedly entered the YWCA at 2600 Bancroft Way, where he made inquiries about purchasing Girl Scout cookies, and he was reported by staff to the police.
For his latest arrest, Turner is charged with disobeying a court order, engaging in lewd act, child molestation, battery, and receiving stolen property. He was taken to Santa Rita Jail, where he’s being held for $5,000 bond.
