'O.C. Flasher' to be tried on 56 counts

TUSTIN, Calif., June 27 (UPI) -- Nearly 50 witnesses are to be called in the trial of Christopher Fenn, a California man alleged to be the "O.C. Flasher," prosecutors said.

Fenn, 46, of Mission Viejo is charged with 56 counts of indecent exposure in a case scheduled for trial in July, The Orange County Register reported Saturday. A judge Friday rejected a defense motion to strike 17 of the counts against Fenn, who allegedly exposed himself to dozens of people across Orange County.

Before Fenn's arrest in Tustin, police had dubbed the perpetrator the O.C. Flasher, short for Orange County Flasher. Fenn's case has moved slowly through county court since his arrest in February 2008 when a man chased Fenn after allegedly seeing him expose himself to a woman inside her apartment, the Register reported.

Police had received similar reports of a man exposing himself while covering his face with a towel or a shirt, said prosecutor Robert Mestman.

Dozens of victims and officers have been subpoenaed for the trial, expected to last about a month, Mestman said.