By Jacob Mathias

A Grand Rapids man is charged with lewd and lascivious behavior after being seen masturbating outdoors and in plain view of the public.

Robert Lent, 64, is charged with misdemeanor lewd and lascivious behavior which carries a charge of up to nine months imprisonment, or a $10,000 fine or both if convicted.

Lent pleaded not guilty to the charge at his initial appearance in Wood County Circuit Court on December 14.

According to court documents, on November 26 a Grand Rapids Police officer was called to the 3700 block of Deer Road where they spoke with the defendant’s female neighbor.

She reported to police that she had been outside smoking when she saw her neighbor masturbating in his backyard while in plain view.  She said this is something that’s happened before and she and her husband were sick of it.

Lent was arrested in January for similar behavior. At that time he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year of probation.

When police spoke with Lent, he admitted to the behavior but told police his neighbor didn’t know the whole truth of the matter. He reportedly said he’d masturbated more than 4,000 times in the past seven and a half years and it was difficult to stop.

Lent is free on a $250 cash bond and is to have no contact with his neighbors or their residence.

He returns to Wood County Court on January 29 at 9:00 AM for a pretrial conference.