california
Under what circumstances can you be convicted of indecent exposure for being naked in a California changing room?
<p>Recent events have seen a person (with a history of sexual offending) charged for indecent exposure in the changing room of a nude spa in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>However, I am confused because surely a changing room necessarily involves the nude exposure of body parts not ordinarily exposed.  Under what circumstances can you be charged with indecent exposure in a setting where nudity is necessary in California?</p>

<p>That would be when he <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=314.&amp;lawCode=PEN" rel="nofollow noreferrer">does so willfully and lewdly</a>. Simple nudity is not illegal. See for instance <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/4th/85/937.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">in re Dallas W.</a>, where the court found that sexual intent is necessary: &quot;'something more than mere nudity' must be shown&quot;, citing <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/7/362.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">In re Smith</a> (1972) 7 Cal. 3d 36. A propos this incident, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/09/02/charges-filed-against-sex-offender-in-wi-spa-casecharges-filed-against-sex-offender-in-notorious-wi-spa-incident/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reported partial erection</a> is not irrelevant.</p>
