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Woman says the man was touching himself as he stared at her
One Horsham man is charged with open lewdness after a woman in Lenape Park, in Sellersville, reported him “masturbating as he stared at her across the river.”
Matthew Gagat, 47, of the first block of Sterling Drive in Horsham, denies allegations that he was touching himself, police said.
Perkasie Borough Police Department was called to Lenape Park around 9:02 p.m. on June 27, reports said. A woman said that she was near a Scout cabin in the park system when she saw a man across the creek, on the Sellersville Armory side, who “appeared to be touching himself,” according to police.
She described to the police a white man around 40-years-old, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a “stocky build” and dark hair. She said he wore a black cut-off T-shirt and blue jeans, per police reports.
Police said they made contact with Gagat in the described area of the park, and that he matched the woman’s description. Gagat denied masturbating, police said.
Following a written statement provided to police by the woman, Gagat was charged with open lewdness.
Gagat will have a preliminary hearing on July 23 at 1 p.m. in the Magisterial District Court of Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage is expected to be continued. A hearing is re-scheduled for Aug. 6 at 3:30 p.m. in the same Bucks County Court.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
