Senate passes indecent exposure bill

MOBILE, Ala (WALA) - An indecent exposure bill that would increase the violation from a misdemeanor to a felony if a person is convicted three or more times was passed by the Alabama Senate Thursday afternoon. Governor Robert Bentley will now sign the bill into law.

Through his press secretary, Governor Bentley told FOX10 News earlier this week he will sign the bill if it makes it to his desk.

“Governor Bentley supports the indecent exposure bill that classifies a third conviction of indecent exposure as a class C felony in Alabama. If no changes are made to the bill, Governor Bentley plans to sign it into law after it passes in the Alabama legislature,” said Press Secretary Jennifer Ardis.

Right now, it is unclear when the bill will be signed.

The measure was drafted after State Representative Jim Barton learned about Dana Stegall. Stegall has been convicted more than two dozen times for exposing himself to women. However, because the current law is a misdemeanor, Stegall can only serve one year in jail.

This is the second shot at passing a change to the indecent exposure penalties. In 2010, the bill didn't even make it out of committee.

Opponents of the bill said lawmakers should concentrate more on rehabilitation rather than incarceration.