A Bracebridge man who exposed himself in public and forced the temporary closure of a downtown clothing store had to answer for his actions in court recently.
Donald Wooland, 64, pled guilty to committing an indecent act and mischief, stemming from two incidents that occurred on May 27, 2023.
On that day police received a call regarding an individual exposing himself at the intersection of Queen Street and Entrance Drive in Bracebridge. Police attended the scene and found Woodland, still exposed, before asking him to cover up.
Woodland was taken into custody and shortly thereafter police received a call about a second incident, wherein a man, later identified as Woodland, committed an indecent act in a changeroom of a Bracebridge clothing store. Court heard that the store had to be closed while the changeroom was cleaned and sanitized. The owner said some merchandise was also destroyed and estimated the cost to their business at $1,825.
The defence said while Woodland suffers some “instability” he is mentally fit to stand in court. The defence pointed out that Woodland had “staggering” amounts of alcohol in his system at the time of the offence.
Crown Willow Peterson said Woodland now has multiple convictions for committing an indecent act.
In 2017 Woodland faced six charges in Toronto and Peel regions, including sexual assault, assault and sexual interference, which were brought together and Woodland pled guilty.
In 2018 Woodland appeared in a Bracebridge court and plead guilty to impaired operation of a vehicle and committing an indecent act. During this incident, he had exposed himself to someone working at a downtown Bracebridge clothing store. Three days later he was arrested for driving with double the legal limit of alcohol in his system.
Then on Aug. 5, 2020 police reported a Bracebridge restaurant called police to report that Woodland had committed an indecent act inside the restaurant. Shortly after he left, police received a very similar complaint from a different food service establishment about the man. Later that same evening police received a concern from a third establishment about the same man who was refused service for alcoholic beverages and left in a vehicle.
In passing sentence on Woodland’s most recent crimes, Justice Raymond Williams said Woodland was a “parent’s nightmare.”
“Mr. Woodland, you’re not getting the message,” he said.
Woodland was sentenced to 19 days served pre-trial, plus an additional 30 days in custody. He was also placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay $225 in restitution.
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