Hawthorne man arrested for indecent exposure

Staff report

HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Andrew William Martone, 36, was arrested yesterday and charged with indecent exposure and resisting an officer without violence after allegedly beckoning to a utility worker and then walking out of his motel room naked.

According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy, at about 9:30 a.m. on December 5, a utility worker pulled into the Ranch Motel (8010 SE U.S. Hwy 301, Hawthorne) in a marked commercial vehicle and saw a man waving him down from one of the rooms.

The utility worker said that when he pulled his vehicle back around toward the man’s room and got out of his vehicle to speak to the man, the man came out of the room onto the sidewalk, completely naked, and started screaming at him.

The victim said that after screaming at him, the man grabbed his genitals and started moving in a manner suggestive of sexual intercourse.

The victim watched the room until a deputy arrived and said the man was still inside. The deputy tried to speak to Martone, but Martone allegedly refused to answer the door.

The deputy viewed surveillance video that reportedly showed Martone coming out of his room, completely naked, and making “vulgar” gestures before going back into his room.

Multiple deputies tried to make contact with Martone, and a family member offered to help, talking to Martone through the door; Martone, however, continued to refuse to open the door. After some time, the family member convinced Martone to come out, and he was told to put his hands behind his back, but Martone allegedly tried to go back into his room.

Two deputies reportedly grabbed Martone, who allegedly tensed up and resisted being placed in handcuffs.

Post Miranda, Martone reportedly said he had been outside “playing his guitar,” but when he was told the incident had been captured on video, he reportedly admitted to exposing himself and said he was “in a silly mood.”

Martone allegedly resisted being placed into a patrol vehicle until additional deputies went to the other side of the vehicle to physically pull him inside.

Martone has been charged with indecent exposure and three counts of resisting an officer without violence. He has four non-violent misdemeanor convictions. Judge David Kreider set bail at $9,500.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.