David C Whitten

An Allegheny County man was sentenced to probation in Butler County court on Thursday after being charged with inappropriately touching himself in a Cranberry Township business in June.

David C. Whitten, 76, of Sewickley was sentenced to 12 months probation, complete any counseling required by the probation office and to pay court costs and $200 in fines by Judge William Shaffer.

Whitten previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor open lewdness and summary harassment on Nov. 27.

He was initially charged by Cranberry Township police with felony unlawful contact with a minor, which was dismissed at the district court level and the open lewdness charge. The summary harassment charge was also later added.

The charges stem from an incident on June 28 at Costco in Cranberry Township, after police said an employee noticed Whitten following a child around “with his left hand in his pocket moving it around in an aggressive manner,” the affidavit of probable cause said.

After trailing Whitten for a short time, the store employee stepped in and escorted the child away and Whitten fled the scene on foot.

During the investigation, police learned that Ohio Township Police had a similar incident at Sam's Club involving Whitten exposing himself on July 19. Police said Whitten also admitted to the incident in Cranberry while being interviewed by Ohio Township Police.