You won’t believe who’s back at it again! Paroled arsonist William Kerns just can’t seem to stay out of trouble, and this time, police say he was caught flashing children in broad daylight!
Cops swarmed the Wayne Hills public housing project just minutes after witnesses reported a short, bald man exposing himself to kids near 17th and Kendall around 8 p.m. Monday. And guess what? Officers already had a prime suspect in mind before they even got there! It didn’t take long to track Kerns down in the 1700 block of Thomas, where they slapped the cuffs on him.
Now, he’s cooling his heels in the Scioto County Jail on public indecency and parole violation charges. But here’s the real shocker—this isn’t his first rodeo!
Repeat Offender? More Like Serial Menace!
Kerns was already on parole despite being arrested last July for exposing himself to a child on High Street. That same week, he racked up FOUR separate arrests, including:
- Two more flashing incidents
- Drunken disorderly conduct
- Attempting to smash car windows
- Causing chaos at a carryout
And what happened? He pleaded no contest to public indecency and got a 90-day sentence, but—get this—80 days were suspended! Instead of serious time, he got probation and was told to stay away from his victim and the vicinity of High Street. However, earlier in the afternoon, a High Street resident called police to say he was beating on their door. What a joke!
Even more unbelievable, the parole board let him walk free despite the fact that he was officially homeless—a direct violation of parole conditions!
A Rap Sheet a Mile Long!
Kerns, 47, was originally sentenced to six years in prison for three counts of aggravated arson back in 2018. He was released on February 22, 2024, but within a month, he was arrested again for violating parole. Since then, he’s been booked into the Scioto County Jail SEVEN more times!
His criminal history? A total trainwreck:
- 35 prior arrests
- Aggravated arson
- Felonious assault
- Aggravated menacing
- Domestic violence
- Petty theft
- Multiple parole violations
So, the real question is: How many more times does he have to expose himself to kids before he’s locked up for good?
Stay tuned—because if history tells us anything, we’ll be reporting on Kerns again sooner rather than later!
