Man accused of exposing himself
OCEAN RIDGE — A 77-year-old Boynton Beach man is facing lewd or lascivious behavior charges after two women told police he masturbated in front of them and children at Oceanfront Park Beach.
Aniello Lanzetta has pleaded not guilty to the four counts of lewd or lascivious behavior. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on April 27 and has since been released after posting $20,000 bond, jail records show.
The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office is expected to file charges June 7, according to records.
Ocean Ridge Police said Lanzetta denied the behavior but did say he had contact with one of the complainants.
“He was apologetic toward the alleged victims but denied it was because of any lewd behavior,” the Ocean Ridge police officer wrote in Lanzetta’s arrest report.
One woman told the officer Lanzetta masturbated in front of her and children she was with and that he made eye contact with her. Another woman said she was putting on lotion and exercising at the beach when she noticed Lanzetta with his hands down his pants while making eye contact. He also exposed himself, she said. That happened in December, and she’s seen him at the beach several times since.
While the officer was speaking to the women at the beach, Lanzetta was also there. The officer reported seeing Lanzetta watch the victims as they spoke with the officer. He was “exhibiting nervous behavior,” the officer wrote in the report.
Ocean Ridge Police Chief Hal Hutchins encourages the public to call police “whenever something out of the ordinary happens that causes them to be alarmed.”
Hutchins said even if it’s delayed, call. The first time it was reported, Lanzetta already left the area, the chief said. But that’s OK, he added.
“It’s still good to report, so we can be aware of what’s going on in the area,” he said. “My mantra is if you think that you should probably call the police, don’t second-guess yourself.”