SALEM — A homeless sex offender found urinating and drinking in a playground adjacent to Collins Middle School as students were being dismissed Wednesday morning is being held on $1,000 cash bail.
William Rivera, 50, was arrested shortly after 11 a.m. the day before Thanksgiving on charges that include open and gross lewdness and public drinking.
Police got a call from someone who said they saw the man in the playground on Broad Street, Salem police Lt. Conrad Prosniewski said.
The caller was not aware that Rivera has a 1997 conviction on his record for lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 16, according to the Florida sex offender registry. Rivera has also lived in Chicago.
But the caller did know that students were outside in groups and that Rivera was in plain view, Prosniewski said.
During his arraignment, a lawyer argued that Rivera simply needed to use the bathroom and could not find one nearby. Prosniewski pointed out that there are a number of businesses nearby.
Rivera has been ordered to stay away from the school and the playground if he makes bail.
He's due back in court on Dec. 23.
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