Manatee County sheriff’s deputies arrested Tampa resident Joseph Traugott, 62, June 26 on two counts of “lewd or lascivious exhibition … upon a child less than 16 years of age,” a second-degree felony charge.
A person reported to the MCSO that she saw Traugott — who was reportedly seated on the beach on the south side of Passage Key wearing a mesh thong — remove his clothing and masturbate in front of her two juvenile nieces.
Passage Key is a national wildlife refuge that people are prohibited from visiting — other than wading in the waters around the small island.
The complainant said she screamed at Traugott to stop when she saw what he was doing, which caused the man to run down the beach.
MCSO marine units arrested the man and brought him to the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach.
Deputies then transported Traugott to the Manatee County jail, where he was released the next day after posting a $15,000 bond.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, July 23, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
— Ryan Paice
