Seattle Registered Sex Offender Charged After Police Say Grocery Store

SEO Information

Summary

A Seattle grocery store incident became a felony indecent exposure case after police said witnesses reported a registered sex offender exposing himself and masturbating inside Uwajimaya in the Chinatown-International District. The suspect was identified as Keenan Charles Pearson, 46. The Smoking Gun and KOMO News reported that Pearson allegedly identified himself to officers as “Master Baiter” after police detained him near the store.

The incident occurred on May 5, 2025, at approximately 2:26 p.m. According to the probable-cause affidavit published by The Smoking Gun, Seattle police were dispatched to 500 5th Avenue South for a sex offense call. The call notes described a male suspect who was allegedly exposing himself and masturbating. The affidavit said the suspect was possibly intoxicated or high and gave a clothing description that helped officers locate him.

Sergeants arrived and were directed by a security guard and others toward Pearson, who was allegedly trying to walk away. Police said he continued walking after officers told him to stop, but they caught up to him and detained him. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Pearson allegedly gave the name “Master Baiter.” When asked what he had been doing inside Uwajimaya, he reportedly admitted he was “strokin” inside the store.

Inside the grocery store, officers spoke with multiple witnesses. One employee said two customers had reported that Pearson had followed them around the store while engaging in lewd conduct. Another witness, an employee working in the food court, said Pearson asked him a strange question before the worker looked up and saw Pearson exposing himself. A third witness told police he saw Pearson exposed and masturbating and said he believed the conduct was happening in front of women and children inside the store.

KOMO News reported that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed two new felony indecent exposure charges against Pearson in May 2025. Prosecutors reportedly described him in charging documents as a “prolific public masturbator” with prior convictions for felony and misdemeanor indecent exposure. The same report said Pearson had a long criminal history that included six prior convictions for indecent exposure, voyeurism and indecent liberties, along with other criminal cases in Washington and Missouri.

The case also involved Pearson’s sex offender registration status. KOMO reported that Pearson was required to register as a sex offender but was not in compliance with that obligation. The Smoking Gun similarly reported that Washington’s sex offender registry listed Pearson as non-compliant at the time. Prosecutors reportedly argued that Pearson had demonstrated an inability to follow court orders and appear in court, citing more than 40 prior failures to appear and outstanding warrants.

The May 2025 arrest came shortly after another indecent exposure case. KOMO reported that Pearson had been arrested in March 2024 for masturbating inside a Burien Safeway while watching women in yoga pants. After that case, Pearson reportedly spent 325 days in the King County Jail and was released in April 2025 after prosecutors and defense counsel agreed that the jail time served was sufficient for that prior matter.

The new Uwajimaya case therefore landed with a heavier context than a single grocery store allegation. Prosecutors pointed to prior convictions, non-compliance with sex offender registration, alleged repeated public sex conduct and an extensive pattern of court nonappearances. A judge granted the prosecutor’s request for $150,000 bail, and Pearson remained in King County Jail while awaiting arraignment, according to KOMO.

Washington’s indecent exposure statute, RCW 9A.88.010, states that a person commits indecent exposure when the person intentionally makes an open and obscene exposure of himself or herself knowing that the conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm. The same statute says indecent exposure can become a Class C felony if the person has previously been convicted under the statute or of a qualifying sex offense. That felony classification matches the public reporting that Pearson was charged with two felony indecent exposure counts.

For sentencing context only, Washington law provides that a Class C felony can carry up to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Those are possible statutory penalties, not a confirmed sentence in this case. The accessible reporting reviewed for this article did not confirm a final conviction, plea deal, dismissal or sentence in the new May 2025 case.

The case drew attention because of Pearson’s alleged self-given name, but the courthouse issue is not the nickname. The legal focus is the allegation that customers and employees were exposed to lewd public conduct inside a busy grocery store, including an allegation that children were among those present. The pun is the glitter on the mousetrap. The criminal case is about public sexual conduct, repeat-offender concerns and community safety inside an ordinary retail space.

Section 1: The Crime

The alleged crime was felony indecent exposure. Seattle police said witnesses reported Pearson exposing himself and masturbating inside Uwajimaya, a grocery store in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. The police affidavit said the incident happened while numerous members of the public were inside the store, including women and children.

Police said Pearson admitted to lewd conduct when questioned and allegedly continued making inappropriate comments while officers were speaking with him. Witnesses described seeing him exposed inside the store. One witness said he had been following customers, while another said the conduct occurred in a public area of the store.

Important wording note: The suspect’s alleged nickname is part of the police and media reporting, but this article keeps the legal framing on the charge itself: felony indecent exposure in a public grocery store.

Section 2: Crime Location

The incident occurred at Uwajimaya, located at 500 5th Avenue South in Seattle, Washington. The store is in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. The police affidavit listed the dispatch address as 500 5th Avenue South, Seattle, Washington.

Section 3: Date And Time Of Crime

The incident occurred on Monday, May 5, 2025, at approximately 2:26 p.m. The existing Crime Report page listed the time as 12:00 a.m., but the police affidavit and public reporting support the afternoon dispatch time.

Section 4: Police Department

The case was handled by the Seattle Police Department. The police affidavit identifies Seattle police sergeants as the first responding officers. The Seattle Police Department lists 911 for emergencies and 206-625-5011 as the non-emergency number for police assistance.

Section 5: Suspect Name

The suspect was identified as Keenan Charles Pearson. The existing Crime Report page listed him as Keenan Pearson, while KOMO News used the full name Keenan Charles Pearson. Police documents and reporting said Pearson allegedly identified himself to officers as “Master Baiter.”

Section 6: Suspect Age

Pearson was reported to be 46 years old at the time of the May 2025 arrest. The existing Crime Report page listed 45, but The Smoking Gun and KOMO News both reported him as 46.

Section 7: Charges

KOMO News reported that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed two new felony indecent exposure charges against Pearson. The Smoking Gun also described the case as a new indecent exposure arrest involving a registered sex offender and noted that Pearson was scheduled for arraignment after being jailed on $150,000 bail.

Washington RCW 9A.88.010 covers indecent exposure. The statute says indecent exposure can be charged as a Class C felony if the person has previously been convicted of indecent exposure or a qualifying sex offense. RCW 9A.20.021 provides that a Class C felony can carry up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. Those are possible statutory limits only, not a confirmed sentence.

Section 8: Bond Amount

KOMO News reported that a judge granted the prosecutor’s request for $150,000 bail and that Pearson remained in King County Jail. The Smoking Gun also reported that Pearson was locked up in the county jail in lieu of $150,000.

Section 9: Conviction

No final conviction was confirmed in the accessible sources reviewed for this article. The case should be described as charges and allegations unless a final court disposition is verified through official King County court records.

Section 10: Sentence

No final sentence was confirmed in the reviewed sources. The reported charges were felony indecent exposure counts, but any prison term, jail term, probation, dismissal or plea agreement must be verified through official court records before publication as a final outcome.

Section 11: Outcome

The reported outcome so far is that Pearson was arrested, charged with two felony indecent exposure counts, jailed on $150,000 bail and scheduled for arraignment on May 22, 2025. The accessible public reporting did not confirm a later plea, verdict, dismissal or sentence. Pearson is presumed innocent of the new charges unless and until proven guilty in court.

Section 12: Victim

The victims were members of the public inside Uwajimaya, including customers, store employees and children who were reportedly present. The witnesses and victims were identified in the affidavit by initials or roles rather than full public names. This article does not name private witnesses or minors.

Section 13: Victim Name

No individual victim name was publicly confirmed in the reviewed sources. The victims should be described as Uwajimaya customers, employees and members of the public, including children who were reportedly present.

Section 14: Victim Age

The victim ages were not publicly reported. The affidavit and reporting state that children were among the people present in the store, but no child victim ages were provided in the reviewed sources.

Sources

1. The Smoking Gun: Police: Seattle Pervert, 46, Lives Up To His Name
2. The Smoking Gun: Seattle Police probable-cause affidavit image
3. KOMO News: Seattle sex offender who calls himself “Master Baiter” charged with new public sex crimes
4. Crime Report: Existing Seattle “Master Baiter” article page
5. Washington Legislature: RCW 9A.88.010, Indecent exposure
6. Washington Legislature: RCW 9A.20.021, maximum sentences for crimes
7. Washington Legislature: RCW 9A.44.130, sex offender registration requirements
8. Seattle Police Department: Contact information

Article Tags

SEO Information

Summary

A Seattle grocery store incident became a felony sex-crime case after police said a registered sex offender exposed himself and masturbated in front of customers, including children, inside Uwajimaya in the Chinatown-International District. The suspect was identified as Keenan Charles Pearson, 46. Charging coverage from KOMO News and The Smoking Gun said Pearson was known to authorities from prior public-sex-crime cases and was listed as non-compliant on Washington’s sex offender registry.

The incident happened on Monday, May 5, 2025. A Seattle Police Department probable-cause document published by The Smoking Gun says officers were dispatched around 2:26 p.m. to 500 5th Avenue South, the Uwajimaya grocery store location, for a reported sex offense call. The call notes described a male suspect allegedly exposing himself and masturbating inside the store.

When officers arrived, a security guard and others pointed out Pearson. According to the affidavit image, Pearson tried to walk away before officers stopped and detained him. Police said that when Sergeant Johnson asked Pearson for his name, Pearson identified himself using the phrase “Master Baiter.” The same report said Pearson admitted he was “strokin” inside Uwajimaya.

Police said the store incident involved several witnesses and victims. The affidavit image described witness accounts from people inside the store, including a person who works in the food court and another witness who told officers that Pearson had exposed himself and was actively masturbating. One witness described the conduct as happening in front of women and children inside the establishment.

KOMO reported that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed two new felony indecent exposure charges against Pearson. Prosecutors described him in charging materials as a repeat public masturbator with three felony indecent exposure convictions and one misdemeanor indecent exposure conviction for similar conduct. The charging document excerpt quoted by KOMO also said he had failed to appear in court more than 40 times and had two outstanding warrants at the time of writing.

The May 2025 arrest came shortly after a prior case. KOMO reported that Pearson had been arrested in March 2024 for a separate incident inside a Burien Safeway, spent 325 days in King County jail, and was released on April 11, 2025 after prosecutors and defense agreed that the time served was sufficient in that case. That context matters because the new Uwajimaya allegations came less than a month after his release.

Public reporting also described a broader criminal history. KOMO reported that court records showed six prior convictions for indecent exposure, voyeurism and indecent liberties, and that a King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office report said Pearson had been involved in 24 criminal cases in Washington and Missouri. The Smoking Gun’s archive summary also reported convictions for assault, voyeurism, burglary, domestic violence, possession of a deadly weapon and multiple indecent exposure convictions.

Pearson was jailed on a reported $150,000 bail. KOMO reported that a judge granted the prosecutor’s request for that bail amount and that Pearson remained in the King County jail as of the May 21, 2025 article. The Smoking Gun similarly reported that Pearson was locked up in the county jail in lieu of $150,000 and was scheduled for arraignment.

Washington law explains why the charge can be a felony. RCW 9A.88.010 defines indecent exposure as intentionally making an open and obscene exposure of one’s person or another person while knowing the conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm. The same statute says indecent exposure is a Class C felony if the person has previously been convicted under that section or of a qualifying sex offense.

For sentencing context only, Washington’s general felony sentencing statute, RCW 9A.20.021, says a Class C felony can carry up to five years of confinement, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, unless a different statutory maximum applies. Those are statutory limits, not a confirmed sentence for Pearson in this case.

The existing Crime Report page contained several details that needed correction. It listed Pearson as 45, but KOMO and The Smoking Gun identified him as 46. It also listed the date and time as May 5, 2025 at 12:00 a.m., but the probable-cause affidavit image gives the dispatch time as around 2:26 p.m. on May 5. The page also used “store patreons,” which should be corrected to “store patrons,” and the victim section should emphasize customers, employees and children present in the grocery store rather than naming private individuals.

No final conviction, plea, dismissal or sentence for the Uwajimaya case was confirmed in the accessible sources reviewed for this article. The case should therefore be described as an arrest and charging-stage matter unless official King County court records later confirm a final disposition. Pearson is presumed innocent of the new charges unless and until proven guilty in court.

Section 1: The Crime

The alleged crime was felony indecent exposure. Police said Pearson exposed himself and masturbated inside Uwajimaya while customers, employees and children were present. According to the probable-cause affidavit image, several witnesses identified Pearson or described the conduct to officers.

Police said Pearson admitted to officers that he was engaged in the conduct inside the store. The affidavit also said he made additional inappropriate comments while speaking with officers. Because this case involves public sexual conduct in the presence of children, this article avoids repeating unnecessary graphic detail beyond what is needed to explain the charges.

Important wording note: This article treats the Uwajimaya case as a charging-stage matter. Pearson was charged, but no final conviction or sentence was confirmed in the reviewed sources.

Section 2: Crime Location

The alleged incident occurred at Uwajimaya, located at 500 5th Avenue South in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. KOMO identified the location as the Uwajimaya grocery store in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. The probable-cause affidavit image also listed the 500 5th Avenue South address.

Section 3: Date And Time Of Crime

The incident occurred on Monday, May 5, 2025. The probable-cause affidavit image says Seattle police officers were dispatched around 2:26 p.m. KOMO reported that Pearson’s most recent arrest happened at Uwajimaya on May 5.

Correction note: The existing Crime Report page listed May 5, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. The better-supported time from the probable-cause affidavit is about 2:26 p.m.

Section 4: Police Department

The case was handled by the Seattle Police Department. KOMO reported that a Seattle police officer responded and detained Pearson. The probable-cause document identifies Seattle police sergeants as the responding officers.

The Seattle Police Department lists 911 for emergencies and 206-625-5011 as the police non-emergency number.

Section 5: Suspect Name

The suspect was identified as Keenan Charles Pearson. KOMO used the full name Keenan Charles Pearson. The Smoking Gun used Keenan Pearson and reported that he called himself “Master Baiter.” The nickname should be treated as part of the reported police account and headline context, not as his legal name.

Section 6: Suspect Age

Pearson was reported to be 46 years old. The existing Crime Report page listed him as 45, but KOMO and The Smoking Gun both identified him as 46.

Section 7: Charges

KOMO reported that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed two felony indecent exposure charges against Pearson. The charging coverage said prosecutors described him as having prior indecent exposure convictions and a sex-offender registration issue.

Under RCW 9A.88.010, indecent exposure is generally a misdemeanor, but it becomes a Class C felony if the person has previously been convicted under the indecent exposure statute or of a qualifying sex offense. RCW 9A.20.021 states that a Class C felony can carry up to five years of confinement, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Those are statutory limits only, not a confirmed sentence in this case.

Section 8: Bond Amount

KOMO reported that a judge granted prosecutors’ request for $150,000 bail and that Pearson remained in the King County jail at the time of the May 21, 2025 report. The Smoking Gun also reported that Pearson was jailed in lieu of $150,000.

Section 9: Conviction

No final conviction in the Uwajimaya case was confirmed in the accessible sources reviewed for this article. Pearson should be described as charged or accused unless official King County court records later confirm a plea, conviction, dismissal or other final disposition.

Section 10: Sentence

No final sentence in the Uwajimaya case was confirmed in the reviewed sources. For legal context only, Washington law classifies repeat indecent exposure as a Class C felony in qualifying cases, and a Class C felony can carry up to five years of confinement and a fine of up to $10,000. Those are possible statutory consequences, not a confirmed sentence for Pearson.

Section 11: Outcome

The reported outcome so far is that Pearson was arrested, charged with two felony indecent exposure counts, and jailed on a reported $150,000 bail. KOMO reported that he was scheduled for arraignment on May 22, 2025. No final court outcome was confirmed in accessible sources reviewed for this article.

Section 12: Victim

The victims were the customers, employees, witnesses and children allegedly exposed to the conduct inside Uwajimaya. The probable-cause affidavit image described multiple witnesses and victims. This article does not identify private witnesses by name, especially because children were reportedly present.

The broader affected parties include the grocery store, staff members who had to respond, families shopping in the store and law enforcement officers who handled the arrest.

Section 13: Victim Name

No private victim name should be published for this case. The best wording is “Uwajimaya customers, employees and children present inside the store.” The existing Crime Report page’s “Store Patreons and Children” should be corrected to “store patrons and children,” or more professionally, “customers, employees and children present inside the store.”

Section 14: Victim Age

No individual victim ages were reported in the reviewed sources. KOMO and the probable-cause affidavit image reported that children were among the people present or affected, but no specific child ages were provided.

Sources

1. Crime Report: Existing Keenan Pearson Seattle grocery store article page
2. The Smoking Gun: May 2025 archive, Police: Seattle Pervert, 46, Lives Up To His Name
3. The Smoking Gun: Keenan Pearson image
4. The Smoking Gun: Probable-cause affidavit image excerpt
5. Washington Legislature: RCW 9A.88.010, Indecent Exposure
6. Washington Legislature: RCW 9A.20.021, Maximum Sentences
7. Washington Legislature: RCW 9A.44.130, Sex Offender Registration Procedures
8. Seattle Police Department: Contact information

Article Tags