Cop indicted for indecent exposure

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A Travis County grand jury indicted an Austin police officer on an indecent exposure charge Thursday. If found guilty, he could face up to 180 days in jail.

Police say Albert Aguinaga exposed himself during a lap dance at Expose Gentlemen’s Club at 3615 S. Congress Ave. on July 15. The indictment said Aguinaga was “reckless about whether another person was present who would be offended and alarmed by such acts.”

The indecent exposure charge is a Class B misdemeanor. Jurors did not indict Aguinaga on two other original charges – public lewdness and sexual assault.

Austin police say the incident was investigated by the department's Special Investigations Unit. That group submitted the evidence to the Travis County District Attorney's Office.

“Any time an officer violates the law, it is disappointing to all the men and women of the Austin Police Department and contrary to the ethical standards subscribed by members of the department,” said Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo in a statement. “The Department’s immediate and decisive investigative action in this case, is in keeping with our tradition of high standards and accountability.”

Police also say Aguinaga, who has been with APD since 1999, was off-duty at the time of the incident. He has since been placed on administrative leave without pay.