(LEWES, De.) - Cape Henlopen State Park is home to more than five-thousand acres of land where people come to relax, spend time with family, and enjoy the outdoors.
Maryland Boy Scout, Gabriel Coxson, says he is excited for a fun weekend with his troop. "We're just gonna come here, relax, and enjoy ourselves."
Most people don't know what lurks behind the towering pine trees and long sandy beaches.
DNREC arrested five men this month at the Wolfe Neck parking area in an ongoing anti-public lewdness campaign. The men - three from Delaware, two from Maryland and all over 59 years of age - were charged with lewdness-related offenses ranging from offensive touching; criminal solicitation; lewdness and indecent exposure; and loitering to engage in or solicit sex.
Dave Ziegler, who is visiting the area, says he's not incredibly concerned. "It doesn't change my opinion a bit. You know, that stuff's gonna happen everywhere. I still feel safe coming here."
Parks Police Chief Wayne Kline said that in spite of crackdowns there by Natural Resources Police over the last year, DNREC continues to receive complaints from the neighboring public about such illicit activity in the Wolfe Neck area. "Thus we are continuing operations against a serious and longstanding problem with lewd and indecent public behavior there," Chief Kline said. "Such behavior will not be tolerated in a public area within a Delaware State Park. Every arrest that we've made and may make as this enforcement operation continues reiterates that we are committed to eliminating this problem in a public area."
Ricky Brokaw, a lifeguard at Cape Henlopen State Park, says it's a big disappointment to see this happen in such a family-friendly environment. "There is a time and place for it, and because we're a family oriented park, it's not cool."
DNREC has deployed incremental enforcement tactics over the last 15 months to rid the area of such behavior, including posting of "No Loitering" signs and increased patrol activity. Chief Kline said DNREC's campaign to prevent public lewdness in the Wolfe Neck area has made use of both uniformed and plainclothes officers, and will continue to do so.
One of the men arrested there this month was taken to Justice of the Peace Court 3 on charges that included disregarding a police officer's signal, a felony, and an assortment of moving vehicle violations. He was released on $4,900 bond pending arraignment in Superior Court. The other four men were released on a criminal summons with pending court appearances at Justice of the Peace Court 2. They face punishment ranging from a year in jail and fines up to $2,300 for Class A misdemeanor; of up to six months in jail and fine of $1,150 for Class B misdemeanor; up to 30 days in jail and a $575 fine for unclassified misdemeanor, and up to one-year probation and a $345 fine for a violation.