Jail Chaplain Arrested in Lewd Conduct Case

A Roman Catholic chaplain assigned to the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho jail in Castaic has been arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct at a downtown Los Angeles park, the Los Angeles Police Department reported Friday.

Brother Robert John Williams, 41, of Los Angeles was released on his own recognizance after the arrest Wednesday night in Echo Park and is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 15, Los Angeles Police Cmdr. William Booth said.

Williams exposed himself to a plainclothes vice officer in a men’s room at the park, Booth said. A single count of misdemeanor lewd conduct is being sought against Williams, Booth said.

Spokesmen for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office could not be reached Friday evening to determine if the charge had been filed.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Capt. John C. Thurman, commander of the jail’s north/south facility, said Williams has been asked not to return to work at the facility until the case is resolved. He will not be permitted to work there again if he is convicted, Thurman said.