WEST FRANKFORT - City officials want to welcome everyone to West Frankfort, but they ask that drivers keep their pants on.

"West Frankfort is not a nudist colony, so everyone needs to keep their clothes on," Mayor Marion Presley said.

West Frankfort police arrested a Marion man Monday for driving through town in the nude, Police Chief Jeff Tharp said.

Justin Flora, 34, was charged with two counts of public indecency after several female motorists reported a man driving around town without wearing a shirt, pants, or anything else.

"They said he pulled up next to them and was completely nude and he just sat there looking at them," the chief said.

"He liked to drive around in the nude and look at the women," Tharp said. "Evidently, West Frankfort has a lot of pretty women."

Flora told police he didn't mean to offend anyone, although witnesses relayed a different story.

Tharp said the reports were disturbing and were handled with immediate action. He said inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be prosecuted.

State law defines public indecency as an adult performing a sexual act, sexual conduct and lewd exposure publically.

The crime is a Class A misdemeanor offense and a person charged on a third offense of the crime is eligible for prosecution on a Class 4 felony charge.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com

351-5824