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Firefighter Arrested For Exposing Penis, Buying Beer For Teens
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 2, 2011
Modified Jul 2, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 2, 2011
Modified Jul 2, 2011
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A Queens firefighter was arrested yesterday for exposing himself to two 14-year-old boys after he bought them alcohol. 48-year-old Michael Taggart allegedly drank with the teenagers before he exposed his penis to them at around 2 a.m. in Oakland Gardens. Taggart has been a firefighter for 15 years, and was suspended for 30 days without pay following charges of public lewdness, endangering the welfare of a child, and distributing alcohol to a minor, the Daily News reports. No word on whether he will choose the classic "peeing" defense or the more nuanced "penis game gone awry."
In related, equally depressing news, a FDNY EMT of 14 years pleaded guilty yesterday to having sex with a 15-year-old girl while she was intoxicated. 43-year-old Joel Pierce pled guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and received probation—no jail time—for engaging in sex acts with the minor after she had three beers at his Long Island apartment. "He's a good man—a very good one," Pierce's mother told the Daily News after the sentencing. If you ever want your mother to defend you outside a courtroom after being convicted of sex acts with a minor, you should probably give her a call today.
Tagged
alcohol
fdny
long island
minors
queens
sex
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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