Crime & Safety
Judge Determines Ample Evidence to Make Library Exhibitionist Stand Trial
Robert Bruce Engel will be held to answer for indecent exposure for allegedly pleasuring himself in the Rancho Santa Margarita Library.
The man accused of masturbating in the Rancho Santa Margarita Library in front of three teenaged girls moved closer to a court date to determine his innocence.
Judge Michael Leversen determined Tuesday at a preliminary hearing for Robert Bruce Engel that there was enough evidence presented by prosecutors to hold Engel to answer the charges.
A Mission Viejo resident, Engel’s next court date will be an arraignment hearing on Oct. 11 for one count of felony indecent exposure.
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Engel pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent exposure in 1997 and in 2000 was convicted of indecent exposure.
Engel is accused of having placed a newspaper over his lap and pleasuring himself in the presence of three teen girls in the library on May 9. He was arrested one week later, in the library, while reading a newspaper.
Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He is currently free on bail.
Editor's Note: This story originally indicated Engel lived in Rancho Santa Margarita.
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