DENVER — A previously convicted sex offender who was the target of a recent Crime Stoppers bulletin was arrested after police say they linked to him to at least five indecent exposure incidents that occurred in northwest Denver in December.
The Denver District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that Mark Lucero, 39, was recently charged with six felony counts of indecent exposure.
Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 25, authorities allege Lucero, driving around in northwest Denver in a dark-colored SUV, parked in alleyways and exposed himself, masturbating to passing female victims.
Court documents obtained by Denver7 detail the alleged cases, including a Dec. 24 incident in which Lucero allegedly left his vehicle and “aggressively” approached a victim while continuing to masturbate, causing her to run in fear.
Four days prior to the alleged Christmas Eve incident, Lucero is accused of exposing himself to a 14-year-old victim in the 4300 block of North Yates. According to the documents, Lucero “exposed his genitals and began to masturbate directly in front of [the 14-year-old victim] and her friend.”
During the investigation, detectives obtained a copy of surveillance video from a private residence showing the suspect’s SUV, which was released to the public in a Crime Stoppers bulletin on Dec. 28.
Days later, detectives obtained a partial license plate number from a fifth victim who came forward after seeing the Crime Stoppers report on the news, according to the documents. Investigators said that information, along with at least two anonymous tips, eventually led police to Lucero.
Lucero is a registered sex offender and has four arrests and convictions of indecent exposure cases in Adams County beginning in 1999, according to the court documents.
Lucero is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court on Jan. 30 for a preliminary hearing.