Two Arrested for Public Sex Act at Marathon Children's Park

Benjamin Andrew Frey, 35, and Kristi Lynn Ruiz, 42, both of Marathon, were arrested Saturday evening after Monroe County deputies say the pair were observed engaging in sexual activity in plain view at the City of Marathon Children's Rotary Park and Dog Park.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputies responded around 8 p.m. on March 28 following reports of the alleged conduct. Among those present was a family of three, one of whom was a juvenile, according to MCSO. Deputies arrested Frey and Ruiz at the park and charged both with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, indecent exposure, and resisting arrest. Both were transported to the Monroe County Jail; no bond amounts or court dates had been publicly released as of Sunday.

With a juvenile present, lewd and lascivious exhibition carries second-degree felony penalties for adult offenders under Florida law, with a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison. Indecent exposure, absent aggravating circumstances, is a first-degree misdemeanor. Resisting arrest is a separate charge that compounds the defendants' exposure in court.

The Children's Rotary Park and Dog Park, a combined family recreation and pet-exercise space in central Marathon, draws residents through evening hours and is a regular gathering point for families with children. Saturday's arrests follow a run of public-indecency cases MCSO has worked in Marathon's public and commercial spaces. In August 2025, deputies arrested Vincent Edwards Crews, 60, of Marathon, and Sharon Helen Czaplinsky, 45, of Clearwater, after the two were found having sex at the Tom Thumb gas station on the 5500 block of Overseas Highway near the car wash area, also around 8 p.m. Crews was held on a $12,500 bond; Czaplinsky on $5,500. MCSO records from a separate, earlier case showed Czaplinsky had been arrested for similar public conduct at a Marathon Winn-Dixie parking lot, which the sheriff's office described at the time as her second such arrest in three months.

Residents who witness suspected lewd conduct in a public space should call 911 immediately if a child is present or an act is ongoing. For after-the-fact reports, MCSO accepts calls through its non-emergency line. The most useful information for dispatchers is the exact location, a description of the individuals involved, and confirmation of whether any minors are present. MCSO posts arrest information to its public news blog following bookings, where details on charges and custody status are typically made available.