Man accused of sexual misconduct outside school

— A 29-year-old man is accused of sexual misconduct outside a Benton elementary school.

Michael Lee Patterson was arrested today on charges of public display of hard-core sexual conduct, a class D felony, and misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

Police say Patterson first tried to make contact with a woman as she walked into Howard Perrin Elementary School on the morning of Feb. 11.

As the woman left that afternoon, she reportedly saw Patterson again when he stopped his vehicle to let her walk by. At that point, she noticed he was exposing himself while masturbating, according to a Benton Police Department news release.

Patterson was identified as the suspect through the woman's description of him and his vehicle, police said. He was being held in the Saline Count Detention Center Friday in lieu of $5,000 bond.

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