Police file additional lewdness charges against Berkeley man

Police have filed additional charges against a 73-year-old man arrested in November for allegedly exposing his genitals to a child inside a Toms River store. 

Gustavo Miranda of Buena Vista Drive in the Holiday City section of Berkeley Township is alleged to have masturbated inside his vehicle outside the Ocean County Mall while watching a 31-year-old woman and her 8-year-old daughter walk on Sept. 11, according to Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

An investigation into the September incident by Det. Thomas Grosse culminated with Miranda facing charges of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and lewdness after surrendering on Nov. 25, Stocco said. 

He was released on an additional bail of $100,000, the spokesman added. 

“It should be noted that there was never any direct physical contact between Miranda and the victims,” Stocco said. “The charges of sexual assault arise from the fact that a child victim observed the lewd acts, which elevates the grading of the crimes.”