'Serial flasher' gets 10 years, will serve 3

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - Baldwin County Circuit Judge James Reid levied a 10 year prison sentence on Dana Stegall Thursday after being found guilty for felony indecent exposure back in October. The judge ordered a split sentence with three years to serve and five years supervised probation.

Stegall was found guilty of exposing himself to two women at a Robertsdale gas station back in March 2012. This was just the latest of numerous indecent exposure convictions dating back to the early 1990’s. Prosecutors hope that this sentence helps to bring closure for many of his victims.

“I hope that through this case, we have provided that for her and provided it for all of our victims as well as protecting the community as a whole from him, at least for the next three years,” said Assistant District Attorney Teresa Heinz.

One of Stegall’s prior victims (Christi), who was pivotal in getting Alabama’s indecent exposure laws changed, has been following this for three years. The sentence finally brought some closure for her.

Special Report: Exposing the law

“That’s one of those things... that you’re no longer a victim. You’re a survivor because you changed the system and you got something better for the public there to protect them,” she said.

At the state’s recommendation, Stegall will serve his time at a facility where he can receive counseling and mental health treatment - something all parties agree is needed.

“I don’t think that that’s the main precipitating cause with Mr. Stegall, but I am hopeful that he will get the mental health treatment so that this does not occur again,” Heinz commented after the sentencing.

Christi is hopeful that the new law will be a deterrent for not just Stegall, but others who may think exposing themselves in public isn’t a serious crime.

“It’s the end of the road,” she said. “That law’s in place and they’re using it. It was written well enough that they can use it.”

Stegall’s attorney said that they think the sentence is fair considering the charges, but still maintain his innocence. They plan to appeal the sentence and file a motion for a new trial with in a couple of weeks.

Stegall has a long history of exposing himself. Here's a list of just some of them from over the years:

06/27/91 Public Lewdness
07/30/91 Harassing Communications, Public Lewdness
02/21/92 Indecent Exposure, Contempt of Court
02/27/92 Reckless Endangerment
09/11/92 Indecent Exposure, Resisting Arrest, Harassing Communications, Escape 2nd
07/20/94 Indecent Exposure
01/16/96 Indecent Exposure
04/10/02 Indecent Exposure
08/26/02 Indecent Exposure
09/04/02 Indecent Exposure, Harassment
09/26/03 Indecent Exposure
05/13/04 Indecent Exposure
07/08/04 Indecent Exposure
03/17/05 Fugitive From Justice
02/20/06 Indecent Exposure
02/23/06 Distribution of Obscene Material
10/11/06 Distribution of Obscene Material, Indecent Exposure
02/17/10 Indecent Exposure