Lewd behavior reported at beach

By Ellen G. Lahr, Berkshire Eagle Staff

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

LEE — A 32-year-old native of Brazil was being held without bail last night at the request of federal immigration authorities after his arrest for indecent exposure at Sandy Beach. Rogerio Brite, who lives in Lee, appeared in Southern Berkshire District Court yesterday to answer to two counts of open and gross lewdness. The charges are listed as subsequent offenses because he had been charged twice before in similar incidents.

Brite's arraignment was delayed until today, when a Portuguese interpreter will be available. He was held without bail, however, because the department of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services filed an immigration detainer to review his legal residency status, according to court documents.

Police Chief Ronald Glidden said police received a call from a lifeguard at the Lee Sandy Beach at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, reporting that a man was engaging in lewd behavior there.

Police arrived to find that the individual had left. But through a series of tips, police tracked Brite to the Best Western Black Swan Inn, where he both works and lives.

Glidden said witnesses to the beach incident identified him through photographs.

Police later linked him to a July 2 incident a few weeks earlier, in which he allegedly exposed himself to two children in the beach parking lot, Glidden said.

The case was continued to Thursday in Southern Berkshire District Court.

A year ago, in Lanesborough, Brite allegedly exposed himself and engaged in lewd conduct on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, according to Lanesborough Police Chief Mark Bashara. Brite also was charged in connection with another incident last year at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox.