Lake Placid man arrested for inappropriate touching on Mirror Lake beach.

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August 30, 2008

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Sat Aug 30, 2008, 04:45 AM EDT

LAKE PLACID -- Lake Placid police arrested a man at the public beach on Mirror Lake for alleged inappropriate touching.

Officials said Shane S. Williams, 34, of Lake Placid was arrested at 2 p.m. Thursday and charged with two counts of forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

An investigation ensued after two complaints came in Thursdays about a male acting inappropriately with young girls at the beach.

Deputy Police Chief William Moore said victims alleged unwanted touching of their arms and legs.

"The young girls involved did the right thing and told their parents and the lifeguards," Moore said.

Parents contacted police and officers made the arrest after interviewing the victims.

Williams is listed on file at the Lake Placid Police Department as a Level One sex offender, which is the level least likely to repeat an offense.

Moore said if convicted on pending charges, the state sex offender registry could raise Williams to second level offender.

"If convicted, it would be my guess, his sex offender status would go up."

Level two and three offenders must list their address with the state in records available online to the public.

Williams was arraigned in Wilmington Town Court and sent to Essex County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond.

Moore said Williams had not been released from jail as of Friday morning.

He is scheduled to appear in village court at a later date.

The public beach on Mirror Lake is a favorite place for families with children in summertime.

Town officials allocated extra funds for additional lifeguards and overtime because the beach has had so many visitors this season.

Moore said the incident does not make it less secure.

The children involved, their parents and lifeguards all reacted swiftly to what happened.

"We're here to protect the kids from this type of thing happening," Moore said.

If Williams is released from jail, that information would be posted on VINELink, an online version of Victim Information and Notification Everyday at: www.vinelink.com/vinelink/initMap.do

kdedam@pressrepublican.com