Michigan man accused of indecent exposure with Elmo doll during home inspection

PONTIAC, Mich. — A Michigan home inspector is accused of indecent exposure after he was caught on camera allegedly masturbating with an Elmo doll during an inspection last month, authorities said.

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Kevin Wayne VanLuven, 59, of Clarkston, was arraigned Wednesday on misdemeanor charges of aggravated indecent exposure and malicious destruction of property under $200, the Royal Oak Tribune reported. Magistrate Karen Holt set VanLuven’s bail at $2,500, the newspaper reported.

Aggravated indecent exposure carries up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine, WJBK reported. The property charge carries up to a 93-day jail sentence and a $500 fine, the television station reported. As a condition of his bail, VanLuven is prohibited from being alone in any residential property he does not own, is to have no contact with the victims and is to have a mental health evaluation.

“Just when I think I have seen it all, someone steps up and surprises me with a new level of disturbing actions,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement. “Sadly, in today’s world, we cannot take it on faith that the people we let into our homes can be trusted. We cannot always presume that employers have done their job and have confidence their employees are trustworthy and are there to do the job for which they’ve been hired.

“This is a disgusting reminder to be cautious about who you let into your home. The actions of these homeowners will likely prevent this defendant from going into anyone else’s home.”

According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, an Oxford Township couple told detectives they were selling their home and had let VanLuven and the buyer’s real estate agent into the residence on March 12, then left during the home inspection, the Tribune reported. A camera in the nursery subsequently alerted the phone of the 22-year-old homeowner about movement in the room, WJBK reported. The woman checked her phone and allegedly saw VanLuven in the nursery touching himself, the television station reported.

The homeowner recorded the incident, according to the Tribune. A video reportedly showed VanLuven picking up the Elmo doll from the nursery floor and appearing to touch himself with the doll before returning it to the floor.

During questioning, VanLuven said he moved the doll to inspect an electrical outlet but did nothing else, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. When told there was a camera in the nursery, VanLuven allegedly made incriminating statements and apologized, deputies said.

His next appearance is scheduled for April 19, the Tribune reported.

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