By Staff Correspondent
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have apprehended Ricardo A. Martin, 40, following an incident where he allegedly exposed himself on a recliner situated outside the loading dock at the Goodwill Retail Store and Donation Center located on NW 23rd Avenue.
The arrest occurred around 9 a.m. on July 12, after a Goodwill employee alerted a nearby officer from the Gainesville Police Department. The employee reported encountering Martin sitting in a recliner with his genitals exposed and actively engaging in indecent conduct upon her arrival at work. The police noted that the loading dock area is easily visible from both the sidewalk and the road, making the act particularly concerning.
According to the employee, upon confronting Martin, he responded by spreading his legs further, exposing himself more blatantly, and continuing his inappropriate behavior.
The officer approached Martin, who was identified as the suspect, and found him sitting with his eyes closed, engaged in lewd activity under his shorts. When questioned, Martin was reportedly startled and claimed he was merely scratching himself.
Martin, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with indecent exposure. He has two felony convictions (non-violent) and nine misdemeanor convictions (non-violent); he was arrested in October 2024 for molesting a young child while babysitting and remained in the Alachua County Jail until February 2026, when the charges were dropped. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $20,000 on the new charge.
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.