After eluding capture for nearly a year and a half, "The U of M Flasher" apparently has been nabbed by The University of Memphis police and the Memphis Police Department.
Kevin A. Robinson, 24, appeared before a judge in Criminal Court on Feb. 3 after being charged with one count of indecent exposure and one count of public indecency.
"This guy was on my personal most wanted list for quite some time," said Roger Fowler, director of public safety at The U of M. "I'm glad we got him."
Although Robinson did not enter a plea in the preliminary arraignment on Feb. 3, police said that he had earlier admitted to being responsible for the sexual offenses.
A judge has since ordered Robinson to acquire a lawyer's services and to stay away from the U of M campus.
Robinson has been released on a $100 bond, pending a court hearing on Feb. 19.
"It's pretty frightening that this guy was hanging around our school, but it was just a matter of time before they caught him," said Jennifer Houck, a graphic design major.
Robinson, who is married and has two children, was identified as the assailant on Jan. 12 after a female U of M student was able to get his license plate number.
The student became aware of the suspect's description through another student who had been "flashed" by him earlier in the year.
After the unidentified student saw a man on campus matching Robinson's description, she promptly reported the sighting and license plate number to campus police.
Later that day, officers located Robinson at his home in Memphis, where he admitted to being responsible for the sexual offenses, but was not arrested, Fowler said.
An arrest warrant was later issued, and he was taken into custody on Feb. 1.
"I think that this guy definitely needs counseling," said Megan Mottley, a graduate student majoring in journalism administration. "A little jail time might do him some good, too."
The suspect allegedly had his two young children in the car with him on three separate occasions while he committed acts of exhibition, according to police reports.
A children's social services agency has been contacted, and the incident is currently being investigated.
"If that guy does that kind of stuff in public, no telling what he does at home," said Josh Gwatney, a student at The U of M.
While Robinson has only been charged with two counts of exhibitionism, there have been 12 separate reported cases of "flashings" by an individual matching Robinson's description and vehicle model, according to police.
Despite the number of incidents reported, only two out of the twelve victims have pressed charges.
Police officials added that many times this type of crime goes unreported, especially if the assailant does not display violent behavior.
"We have only received 12 reported cases, but it is certainly a possibility that he has done it at other times that went unreported," Fowler said.
Fowler said that, according to a behavioral science profile conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, people who engage in crimes of this nature often become increasingly violent over time if they are not impeded in some way.
In the study, voyeurism (peeping toms) and exhibitionism (flashers) were early characteristics of current inmates who were later convicted of a violent sexual crime.
Last November, University officials posted an alert in The Helmsman warning students of a possible encounter with the flasher.
The alert described the flasher as a "dirty looking male with no facial hair." The alert also instructed students to watch for his blue, rusted Volkswagen Rabbit and to report any sightings immediately to police.
The first reported incident of indecent exposure occurred on Oct. 20, 1999, and reports continued to come in at random intervals until two days prior to Robinson's apprehension.
According to police reports, the flasher would often pull up next to a female student and ask for directions to a local mall. He would then expose himself to the unsuspecting student while she explained the directions. Then the suspect would quickly flee the scene in his vehicle.
"He's been around for a long time, but I seriously doubt we will ever see him again," said Steven Means, campus police officer.
