Lang
11/15/24
A West Branch man facing multiple accusations of public masturbation has pleaded guilty to two counts of Indecent Exposure while three other counts were dropped.
Court records show on Thursday Judge Jason Burns sentenced 56-year-old Michael Beaver to two years in prison. Iowa City Police say Beaver entered the Iowa City Public Library in April of 2023, placed a jacket over his genitals, and viewed pornographic videos for approximately four hours while masturbating under the jacket.
Beaver was also charged for a May 2023 incident on the Ped Mall. Police say he was sitting on a bench just outside the library around 9:00 that morning when he began watching pornographic videos on a mobile device. Witnesses say Beaver was reaching under his coat…which he had placed over his lap…and quickly moving his hand up-and-down. Those watching from inside the library through a window say they recognized him from the previous masturbation incident.
Beaver was initially charged with five counts of Indecent Exposure. As part of his plea deal, he will be placed on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for ten years.