MASON CITY – On this unseasonably warm Spring afternoon, a Mason City man allegedly made a decision to exit his home and, in front of his neighbors, perform a lewd act that just might impact his life going forward.
Mason City police tel NIT that on March 8, 2026, at 4:00 pm, 56-year-old Troy Joseph Peterson allegedly exited his residence in the 600 block of 15th Street SE in Mason City. While standing outside, he allegedly dropped his pants and began masturbating outside. Peterson allegedly did this in view of multiple neighbors that were also outside on nearby property. One of the people exposed was a child.
Police responded to the scene and Peterson was soon arrested for violating Iowa code 709.9(2)(b) – Indecent Exposure – Masturbate in public in presence of a child.
Peterson (pictured at top) was booked into the Cerro Gordo county jail at 5:34 PM and held on $2,000.00 bond. He remains held there at this time.
A judge slapped a no-contact order on Peterson in court the next day. He now awaits a preliminary hearing set for March 19.