Bentley signs exposure bill into law

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - It took Gov. Robert Bentley just a few minutes to sign House Bill 51 into law, but one victim of indecent exposure had to wait a year and a half to see it happen.

"It's been a long and emotional process," said the unidentified victim.

The law now makes the crime a felony for those convicted three times or more. The bill failed last year, but this time, lawmakers passed the bill with overwhelming support.

Now the woman, who FOX10 News is calling "Kristi," is pleased the lawmaking process worked in her favor.

"So many people are going to be protected now, and hopefully, this will deter other people from committing this crime, and maybe there will be less victims," said Kristi.

Police said Kristi was flashed by Dana Stegall.

When that happened back in 2010, FOX10 News began a series of reports showing Stegall has been arrested more than two dozen times for flashing himself.

However, the law only allowed prosecutors to charge him with a misdemeanor offense.

FOX10 showed State Representative Jim Barton the research, and he promised to change the law.

"If I can't get this thing passed, then it will be on me," said Barton in February 2011.

Representative Barton said the passage is the end result of a community working together for change.

"My delegation realized this issue was not going away. They were very helpful in helping me push my bill through the legislature. I think if FOX10 had not been on top of it, it would have been another piece of legislation that waffled out for a little while," said Barton.

Kristi said she is just happy the law has been modified, even though it took such a long time. The law will go into effect ninety days from now.

At that time, the violation will be listed in the code book of Alabama. State and local prosecutors can then use it when necessary.

The penalty under the previous law was a jail sentence up to one year. Under the new law, the penalty can be anywhere from one to 10 years.