9 Arrested on Lewd Conduct in Park Restroom

THOUSAND OAKS —  Sheriff’s deputies working undercover have arrested nine men suspected of soliciting or engaging in sex in the public restroom of the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden.

The men range in age from 25 to 59 and were arrested during a sting involving plainclothes deputies that began Dec. 1.

The botanic garden is at Conejo Community Park, 165 W. Jeaunine Drive.

Deputies set up the sting after receiving numerous complaints of men engaging in sex inside the restroom, Sgt. Randy Pentis said.

The park is popular among families and children. It is apparently also a meeting spot for gay men, who can find out about the restroom over the Internet, Pentis said.

“This is the place, according to the guys we’re arresting,” Pentis said.

Most of the men arrested live in the county, from Ventura to Moorpark. One is a resident of Oregon who works at a construction job for a local contractor, Pentis said.

Authorities said most of the lewd conduct has occurred at lunchtime or in the afternoon. All of those arrested were consenting adults, Pentis said.

A similar sting took place in May, with eight men arrested.

“Four of them admitted to being HIV-positive in May,” Pentis said.