Sex Offender Accused of Masturbating in Children's Section at Barnes & Noble

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - A registered sex offender accused of touching himself in the children's section at a Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Bella Terra shopping center was behind bars today on a charge of indecent exposure.

Bradley Meenahan, a 51-year-old transient, pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony charge of indecent exposure with a prior conviction, according to court records.

Meenahan, who was arrested Feb. 25 and is being held on $100,000 bail, is due back in court on Tuesday.

Witnesses alleged Meenahan was masturbating in the children's books section on the second floor of the store on Feb. 23 about 9 p.m., according to Huntington Beach police.

When he was confronted, he ignored his accusers and left when a store manager approached him, police said.

Meenahan is a registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal history for sex crimes, according to police, who say he had been living out of a van in the Venice Beach area.

Meenahan allegedly told police that he's touched himself in public at more than 20 places in Southern California over the past month.

Anyone with information about him was asked to call police at (714) 375- 5066, or anonymous tips may be made via Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227.

City News Service