An East Tawas man arrested last month during an investigation into at least nine indecent exposure cases in Washtenaw County was charged today.

William Richard Engle, 48, was arraigned this afternoon at the Washtenaw County Jail on four counts of indecent exposure by a sexually delinquent person.

William Richard Engle

He's accused of exposing himself this year in Scio Township, Lima Township, Dexter Village and Ann Arbor, sheriff's department spokesman Derrick Jackson said. Deputies say Engle generally targeted women.

Jackson didn't have specifics on the allegations. Authorities continue to investigate whether Engle is linked to five other incidents in the county and several outside Washtenaw County.

In a number of cases, a man drove up in front of a home, made eye contact with someone inside, turned on an interior light in his car and exposed himself.

Engle is single and rents a room from his mother, relying on $630 monthly in Supplemental Security Income, he said in court today.

He is being held in the jail on a $50,000 cash or surety bond. A public defender is expected to be appointed to represent him.

His family members could not be reached for comment today. Engle is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 21.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.