By VICKIE JAMBON

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – A 52-year-old Reserve man was recently charged with indecent behavior with juveniles after a 7-year-old girl came forward and told authorities the man forced her to fondle him after showing her pictures of nude persons.

According to authorities with the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office, Ernie J. Simon was arrested on Dec. 11 at 10:15 p.m.

Public Information Officer Sgt. Dane Clement released information which conveyed Simon took the girl into a bedroom, where he showed her magazines containing pictures of naked individuals.

Clement said Simon allegedly fondled the adolescent, touching her genitals.

The man purportedly exposed himself to the juvenile and had her touch his genitals.

Clement said although the incident happened somewhere between October and December 2002, the girl just came forward with the information.

Simon was also charged with contempt of court. He is being held in the Sherman Walker Correctional Center in lieu of $25,000 bond.