COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A man accused of repeatedly masturbating outside his neighbor's home wearing only footwear told police, "It's fun until I get caught," prosecutors said Friday.
Calvin Pitchford, 30, was arrested this week on allegations he targeted his 28-year-old neighbor and her 8-year-old daughter as they left their Austin home over the last two weeks.
The mother was walking to her car in the 1600 block of North Melvina Avenue about 5 a.m. Sept. 23 when she spotted Pitchford standing near the corner illuminated by a streetlight, Assistant State's Attorney Nancee Hofheimer said during a bond hearing Friday.
He wore only socks and was masturbating, prosecutors said.
The 28-year-old woman got into her car and called 911 as Pitchford faced her and continued to masturbate, according to Hofheimer.
About 5 a.m. on Sept. 28, as the victim was leaving her home with her daughter, prosecutors said, she again spotted Pitchford masturbating on the street wearing only socks.
The woman hurried her daughter into her car, Hofheimer said — only to have Pitchford walk toward the vehicle and masturbate immediately outside the girl's passenger-side window. The mother drove away and called 911.
On Wednesday, the 28-year-old woman looked out her window shortly before 5 a.m. and again saw Pitchford masturbating in the street wearing only footwear, Hofheimer said. The victim called police, who arrested Pitchford after a brief chase.
Pitchford — who was nude aside from footwear — asked police to take him to his backpack, which he'd stored near a playground in nearby Amunsden Park, prosecutors said. Inside the bag was clothing, a wallet and a box cutter, court records show.
After his arrest, Pitchford admitted to masturbating outside by telling officers, "It's fun until I get caught," according to Hofheimer.
In 2007, Pitchford was convicted of public indecency and aggravated assault and battery after he threatened a 21-year-old woman with a knife on a sidewalk, prosecutors said. He touched the woman, pulled out his penis and began to masturbate as he followed her down the street.
In 2006, prosecutors said, Pitchford was convicted of public indecency for masturbating outside a restaurant window while staring at a 17-year-old employee inside. His shorts were down around his ankles.
Pitchford — who lives four blocks from the 28-year-old woman and her daughter in the 1600 block of North Meade Avenue — is now charged with public indecency and sexual exploitation of a child.
Cook County Judge Sophia Atcherson on Friday set bail at $5,000 after Pitchford told the court he'd be able to post $500, or the requisite 10 percent needed to go free.
He is not allowed to go near his neighbor and will be subject to GPS monitoring, court records show.
