CO- Sex charge worries streaker

11-7-2008 Colorado:
Now that the general election's over, let's get on to more important matters: Justice for the Pumpkin 12.

Recent University of Colorado graduate Eric Rasmussen, 23, is among the 12 runners ticketed Halloween night for indecent exposure after running naked with a wobbly orange squash on their heads along the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.

If convicted, he and 11 others could be required to register as sex offenders. Like many of the Pumpkin 12, he is finding a lawyer.

Rasmussen said it was his first time streaking. He had a great time - until he saw 12 police awaiting him and 150 other naked people at the courthouse.

The officers gave Rasmussen, who hails from suburban Chicago, time to get dressed before recording his vitals.


"I was thinking a minor fine or community service or something," Rasmussen said Wednesday. "I was not thinking of sex offender."

Now, he's scared. You can hear it in his voice.

"I was under the assumption there would be safety in numbers - it didn't occur to me that it would be OK for the police just to take 12 people and disregard the other couple hundred."

Rasmussen, who wants to pursue a career in public relations, is hopeful the charge won't stick, since he doesn't believe anybody was offended by his nudity - except perhaps, the police, who signed his citation as witnesses.

"The lawyers I've spoken to have tried to convince me it won't go that far," he said. "They don't think a judge would want to have 12 people hurt for the rest of their lives because of this act when nobody was really offended."

He and nine others go to Boulder County Court on Dec. 17; two others will appear Jan. 12.

Those cited include Oleg Abramov, 30; Carly Howett, 29; Erika Barth, 32; Ty Tuff, 28; Natalie Ziemba, 20; Scott Wisdom, 21; David Packert, 23; Robert Mohr, 28; Matthew Bruce, 27; Kevin Maddaford, 28; Sabrina Collins, 44.

In Boulder, the 10th annual Naked Pumpkin Run is a hot issue. The core question: Should these 12 face punishment?

Denver legal analyst and trial lawyer Scott Robinson said people should think twice before disrobing in public. A pumpkin can't save you, although a prosecutor just might.

"(Prosecutors) generally view a streaker as somewhat different than the individual who exposes himself to another for sexual gratification," Robinson said. "But there is good reason not to take off your clothes and put a pumpkin on your head. You may as well wear a sign on your head that says, 'Arrest me.' " ..News Source.. by Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News