The man is charged in Basehor Municipal Court with a sole count of lewd and lascivious act. The charge stems from a statement a woman gave police Monday that she witnessed the man fondling himself while at a computer inside the library.

His name is being withheld because of a policy of this newspaper not to name persons accused of sex crimes until they plead guilty or are convicted.

During a meeting last Wednesday, the Basehor Community Library Board of Trustees unanimously approved banning the man from the library. Janice Garcia, board of trustees president, said the board acted swiftly to revoke the man’s library privileges.

Basehor police chief Terry Horner said officers served the man, who lives in a neighborhood north of Leavenworth Road, with the library’s letter Thursday night.

Garcia said the library board consulted its attorney before making its decision. Banning the man from the library falls in line with library bylaws, specifically in the chapter regarding code of conduct, which says:

“This code of conduct is intended to encourage behavior that supports the library’s code of service in providing a safe, clean, organized and appropriate environment. Behavior becomes unacceptable when it interferes with this code of service, compromises the rights of others, causes damage to buildings or equipment, or causes injury to oneself or others. Those willing to modify unacceptable behavior are always welcome to stay. However, those unable to comply will be asked to leave or have library privileges revoked. If necessary, the authorities will be called.”

Library director Carla Kaiser temporarily banned the man from the library following the witness’ statement to police. The board’s action takes Kaiser’s action a step further by banning him for life.

Horner said officers have been directed to increase their protection of the library to ensure employees and patrons are not victimized further by such acts. Officers are making several random visits to the library per shift, the police chief said.

The police department continues to investigate. There is at least one more complaint against the man that officers are looking into, Horner said.

The accused man is scheduled to appear in municipal court May 10.