HAGATNA, Guam — A longtime Guam village mayor has been arrested on allegations he exposed himself to a community service worker, an accusation he denies.
HAGATNA, Guam — A longtime Guam village mayor has been arrested on allegations he exposed himself to a community service worker, an accusation he denies.
Mangilao Mayor Nito Castro Blas was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of indecent exposure, harassment and official misconduct, the Pacific Daily News, a Guam newspaper, reported. The 78-year-old mayor was released after booking.
Blas is accused of exposing himself in his office Friday. Blas told the newspaper he received a massage on his upper right thigh for an old injury. He said “nothing happened” during the encounter.
Blas said he was told the community service worker was good at massage and she agreed to massage his hurting leg. He said he offered to pay $10 for 15 minutes, and only had $4 with him. He said the worker said he could pay her later.
Blas said he removed his pants, remaining in his underwear. He said the woman never touched beyond his leg.
“I didn’t ask for anything else than massage,” he said. The massage occurred while he was seated in his office chair, Blas said, adding that no one else was in the office, but the door was open and his staff was in the adjacent room.
The woman had been assigned to perform 40 hours of community service under a court order, according to Blas.
Blas said he learned a lesson from the experience.
“When I think about it now, it’s never gonna happen again. It’s not appropriate and, my mistake,” he said.