Emlenton man waives hearing in indecent exposure case

From staff reports

An Emlenton man facing dozens of charges in connection with indecent exposure incidents that involved a 15-year-old girl waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday.

James Hager, 47, is facing felony counts of corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility, in addition to a misdemeanor count of corruption of minors and 38 misdemeanor counts each of indecent exposure and open lewdness.

According to a criminal complaint filed through District Judge Patrick Lowrey’s office, Hager had been performing sexual acts upon himself, which the girl recorded on her phone.

The girl told police the incidents had occurred between October and January while her mother was at work. The number of incidents totaled 38, based upon her mother’s work schedule, the complaint said.

The girl said she recorded the exposure incident on her phone as evidence. When the girl’s mother found out about the incident, the mother and daughter moved out of the residence, the complaint said.

When police interviewed the girl, the complaint said, she told them that she had been in Hager’s bedroom watching TV and playing with pet dogs while Hager was lying beside her on his bed. Hager had told the girl not to show the video to anyone because it would “ruin him,” the complaint said.

A search warrant was executed on the girl’s phone, and police obtained evidence that Hager offered to smoke marijuana with the girl numerous times, in addition to sending sexual text messages, the complaint said.

All charges have been transferred to the Court of Common Pleas.