In a case that has reignited debate over New York’s bail reform laws, Lawrence Gartner, 68, of Patchogue, faces public lewdness charges following his alleged indecent exposure incident. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney highlighted the constraints faced by law enforcement and prosecutors due to the current legal framework.
The incident in question took place on March 18, 2024, when Gartner reportedly engaged in lewd behavior within view of preschool children being dismissed from a facility across his apartment. This act has drawn sharp criticism from the community and law enforcement alike, with Tierney condemning the limitations imposed by so-called “bail reform” laws. Under these laws, Gartner was released on an appearance ticket post-arrest, with prosecutors barred from requesting bail during his arraignment.
On April 8, 2024, Gartner was arraigned before District Court Judge Susan A. Berland, facing charges of Public Lewdness in the First Degree and Public Lewdness, both misdemeanors under New York State law and thus not eligible for bail consideration at arraignment. Berland’s decision to release Gartner on his own recognizance pending further court proceedings has sparked further discussion on the need to reassess and possibly amend the bail reform statutes to address public safety concerns more effectively.
“This is yet another disturbing case where so-called ‘bail reform’ has failed our community,” Tierney said. “After allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in front of preschool-aged children, police were required to give him an appearance ticket and my prosecutors could not even ask for bail. The so-called ‘reforms’ related to bail must be re-evaluated and modified by the New York State legislature so that defendants who pose a danger to public safety aren’t immediately released right back onto the street.”
The case is set to continue on April 11, with discussions on supervised release for Gartner underway.