Austin Woman Arrested for Public Masturbation at JW Marriott

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Summary

A downtown Austin indecent exposure case drew national attention after police said a woman was reported engaging in public sexual conduct near the JW Marriott Austin and later continued inappropriate behavior after being detained. The suspect was identified as Dovie Jane Nickels, 26. Public reports said the incident happened on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, around 5:20 p.m., not on the later WordPress publication date shown on the existing Crime Report page.

According to Newsweek, which cited an arrest affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun, Austin police were called after a witness from a local business reported a woman allegedly masturbating in public near the JW Marriott hotel area. Dispatch information reportedly told officers that a woman was on a patio and appeared to have a silver object. The witness was later identified in reporting as E. Gromacki, the general manager of the JW Marriott.

The witness told police he saw the woman in public view and heard sounds that suggested she was engaged in sexual conduct. Oxygen True Crime, citing the Austin American-Statesman and other reporting, said Nickels was accused of touching herself on the street-level patio of two Austin businesses: first near the JW Marriott Austin, and then at Second Bar + Kitchen. Patch also reported that police were called just after 5 p.m. by someone at the JW Marriott and later found the woman at a downtown eatery.

When officers arrived, reports say Nickels had moved from the JW Marriott area to Second Bar + Kitchen, in the 200 block of Congress Avenue. The police account summarized by Newsweek said an officer approached and saw Nickels moving her arms beneath the table in a manner the officer believed matched the reported conduct. When officers came closer, she allegedly stopped the movement, placed her hands on the table, and police observed that she was not wearing pants.

Police arrested Nickels and placed her in a patrol car. The most widely circulated detail in the case came after the arrest. According to Newsweek’s account of the affidavit, police said Nickels continued the same type of movement even after being handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol vehicle. Officers reportedly said she continued after being told to stop. Oxygen also reported that she allegedly continued after arrest, though it noted that some details about how the conduct continued while restrained were unclear.

Nickels was booked on an indecent exposure charge. Newsweek reported that Travis County Sheriff inmate records showed she was held on $3,000 bond at the Travis County Correctional Complex. Patch similarly reported that she was booked into the Travis County Jail with bail set at $3,000. No reliable public source reviewed for this article confirmed a final conviction, plea, dismissal, probation term, jail sentence, or other court disposition.

The criminal charge should be described carefully. “Public masturbation” describes the conduct alleged by witnesses and police, but the charge reported in the available sources was indecent exposure. Texas Penal Code Section 21.08 defines indecent exposure as exposing the anus or any part of the genitals with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire while reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed. The statute generally classifies indecent exposure as a Class B misdemeanor, unless a statutory enhancement applies.

For legal context only, Texas law provides that a Class B misdemeanor can carry a fine of up to $2,000, confinement in jail for up to 180 days, or both. Those are possible statutory penalties, not a confirmed sentence in this case. Because no final court outcome was confirmed in accessible reporting, the case should remain framed as an arrest and allegation.

The reported victims were not individually named. They included hotel staff, restaurant employees, patrons, and other members of the public who were allegedly exposed to the conduct in downtown Austin. This article does not name private witnesses beyond what public reporting already included and does not repeat unnecessary graphic detail beyond what is needed to explain the charge and police response.

The case drew attention because of the unusual allegation that the conduct continued after the arrest. But beneath the headline weirdness, the legal issue was ordinary and direct: police said a person engaged in sexual conduct in public spaces where workers and patrons were present. Downtown patios, hotel entrances, restaurants, and police vehicles are not private spaces. That basic fact is the legal hinge in the case.

Section 1: The Crime

The reported crime was indecent exposure. Austin police said a witness reported a woman engaging in public sexual conduct near the JW Marriott Austin. Officers were told the woman had moved to Second Bar + Kitchen, where they found Nickels seated at a patio table without pants.

According to the police account summarized by Newsweek, an officer saw Nickels moving her arms beneath the table in a way the officer believed matched the earlier report. She allegedly stopped and placed her hands on the table when officers approached. Police later said she continued inappropriate movement after being handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car.

Important wording note: “Public masturbation” describes the alleged conduct. The best-supported criminal charge in the reviewed sources is indecent exposure.

Section 2: Crime Location

The incident took place in downtown Austin, Texas. Reports identify the first location as the area near the JW Marriott Austin and the second as Second Bar + Kitchen in the 200 block of Congress Avenue. Patch reported that police received the initial complaint from someone at the JW Marriott and later found Nickels at Second Bar + Kitchen.

Section 3: Date And Time Of Crime

The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at approximately 5:20 p.m. Newsweek reported that police received the call around 5:20 p.m., with dispatch information coming between 5:18 p.m. and 5:24 p.m. Patch described the call as just past 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Correction note: The existing Crime Report page showed “July 21, 2026 8:43 pm” as the date and time of crime. That appears to be the site publication timestamp, not the incident time.

Section 4: Police Department

The case was handled by the Austin Police Department. The City of Austin lists Austin Police Department headquarters at 715 East 8th Street. For emergencies, the public should call 911. For non-emergency police assistance, the City of Austin directs people to 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 if calling from outside Austin.

Section 5: Suspect Name

The suspect was identified as Dovie Jane Nickels. Some reports and the existing Crime Report page refer to her as Dovie Nickels. Newsweek used the fuller name Dovie Jane Nickels.

Section 6: Suspect Age

Nickels was reported to be 26 years old at the time of the January 2019 arrest.

Section 7: Charges

Nickels was charged with indecent exposure. Texas Penal Code Section 21.08 states that a person commits indecent exposure if the person exposes the anus or any part of the genitals with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire and is reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed.

Under Texas law, indecent exposure is generally a Class B misdemeanor, unless an enhancement applies. For sentencing context only, Texas Penal Code Section 12.22 provides that a Class B misdemeanor can carry a fine of up to $2,000, confinement in jail for up to 180 days, or both. No final sentence was confirmed in this case.

Section 8: Bond Amount

Newsweek reported that Travis County Sheriff inmate records showed Nickels was held on $3,000 bond after being taken to the Travis County Correctional Complex. Patch also reported that she was booked into the Travis County Jail with bail set at $3,000.

Section 9: Conviction

No final conviction was confirmed in the accessible sources reviewed for this article. The case should be described as an arrest and allegation unless an official Travis County court record confirms a conviction, dismissal, plea, or other final disposition.

Section 10: Sentence

No final sentence was confirmed in the reviewed sources. The reported charge was indecent exposure, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law, but no jail sentence, probation term, fine, diversion result, or dismissal was confirmed through accessible public reporting.

Section 11: Outcome

The reported outcome so far is that Nickels was arrested, booked on an indecent exposure charge, and held on a reported $3,000 bond. The available sources did not confirm a later plea, trial verdict, dismissal, deferred adjudication, probation, or final sentence. Nickels is presumed innocent of the charge unless and until proven guilty in court.

Section 12: Victim

The victims were members of the public allegedly exposed to the conduct, including hotel staff, restaurant workers, and patrons in the downtown Austin area. The most specific witness publicly identified in reporting was E. Gromacki, described by Newsweek as the general manager of the JW Marriott. Other witnesses or patrons were not publicly named in the reviewed sources.

Section 13: Victim Name

No individual victim name was confirmed as a private victim in the reviewed sources. The publicly reported witness was E. Gromacki, identified as a JW Marriott general manager. The broader victim group should be described as hotel staff, bar and restaurant patrons, and members of the public.

Section 14: Victim Age

No victim ages were reported in the reviewed sources.

Sources

1. Newsweek: Austin Woman Arrested for Masturbating in Public Continued to Pleasure Herself in Squad Car “Even When Asked to Stop”
2. Oxygen True Crime: Dovie Nickels Accused Of Masturbating In Public In Austin, Texas
3. Patch: Woman Arrested For Indecent Exposure In Downtown Austin
4. Crime Report: Existing Austin JW Marriott indecent exposure article page
5. Texas Penal Code Chapter 21: Section 21.08, Indecent Exposure
6. Texas Penal Code Chapter 12: Punishment ranges for misdemeanors
7. Austin Police Department: Contact information
8. Travis County Sheriff’s Office: Bond information

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