Habitual Criminal Accused of Indecent Exposure in Cold Spring

Officer-in-Charge George Kane of the Village of Cold Spring Police Department and Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith report that, following a joint investigation by their agencies, an arrest has been made in an indecent exposure incident that occurred at the Butterfield Memorial Library in Cold Spring on Monday.

Benjamin Thompson, 36, of Highland Falls, New York, has been charged with the crime of public lewdness for allegedly exposing himself to a woman inside the library.

After circulating photographs of the suspect captured on security cameras at the library, and aided by tips received in response via social media, investigators were able to identify Thompson as the suspect. At about 7 PM on Thursday, authorities located Mr. Thompson and took him into custody as he walked along Main Street in Highland Falls.

The defendant was arraigned before Cold Spring Village Justice Thomas Costello on the public lewdness charge. The judge remanded him to the Putnam County Correctional Facility with bail set at $50,000.00 cash or $100,000.00 bond.

Police said he has an extensive criminal record, including convictions in Florida for burglary, automobile theft, felony drug distribution, battery against an officer and rioting, and a conviction in Georgia for fraud. If convicted on the public lewdness charge in Cold Spring, Thompson could face up to six months in jail.