Lake County man jailed on indecent exposure charge

A Lake County man suspected of exposing himself to a half-dozen women in the Lakeport and Kelseyville areas has been arrested.

The women typically encountered him while walking or jogging alone in residential neighborhoods, where he appeared to have been waiting for someone to come by, sheriff's Detective Kellie Joseph said.

Joseph Harry Barrios, 26, was arrested Wednesday morning at a ladder manufacturing company outside Kelseyville, where he had worked since September, authorities and company owner Jerry Hooks said.

A judge issued an arrest warrant after several witnesses identified Barrios in a photo line-up and provided investigators with a description of his vehicle, Joseph said. At least one memorized his license plate, she said.

The increasing frequency and brazenness of the man's conduct, and a known correlation between some exhibitionist behavior and more serious sex offenses, prompted investigators to pursue the case aggressively, Joseph said.

"We were concerned that that might happen — might have happened," Joseph said.

Barrios, who stays with family or friends in both Kelseyville and Lakeport, admitted to involvement in at least some of the indecent exposure cases, Joseph said.

Barrios was on probation in a drug-related case and had an outstanding bench warrant from Alameda County, authorities said. He was arrested on a single count of suspected indecent exposure and violation of probation, as well as the bench warrant, authorities said. He was being held at the Lake County Jail on $60,000 bail.

Joseph said any additional victims should report their experiences to the sheriff's department. Joseph can be reached through department dispatch at 263-2690.