An Ark City man whose nude walks through his neighborhood helped prompt Cowley County to adopt a new public nudity law last year has become the first person arrested under it.
Sean Barnard, 46, was arrested around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday after Cowley County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 33000 block of 61st Road for a report of a person walking nude in the area.
Barnard was booked into the Cowley County Jail on suspicion of lewd and lascivious behavior and violating the county resolution prohibiting public nudity. Both are misdemeanor offenses.
He remained in jail Wednesday with bond set at $2,500.
The arrest occurred in the IXL neighborhood south of Ark City — the same area where complaints about Barnard taking naked walks ultimately led county commissioners to enact the public nudity prohibition in May 2025.
Previous complaints exposed gap in existing law
Neighbors had complained previously about Barnard walking nude through the neighborhood, but law enforcement officials said at the time that existing state law provided limited options for stopping the behavior.
Cowley County Sheriff David Falletti told Cowley Post last year that a charge of lewd and lascivious behavior under state law required circumstances showing the person was acting to arouse themselves or others.
“I can understand that they’re upset, I’d be upset, too,” Falletti said at the time. “But our job is to enforce the law, and that means there has to be an applicable law for us to enforce.”
County Attorney Larry Schwartz also said then that a county-level prohibition could potentially face a legal challenge.
Local resident Pam Crain became involved after learning about the complaints and pushed county officials to develop a stronger prohibition against public nudity. Continue story below ad.
“It’s disturbing that something like this can be happening in one of our neighborhoods, kids shouldn’t have to see that,” Crain told Cowley Post at the time. “I won’t accept that there’s nothing that can be done about it.”
County Administrator Lucas Goff subsequently researched options and presented them to commissioners.
Commissioners adopted prohibition in May 2025
Cowley County commissioners ultimately voted unanimously to prohibit public nudity.
The resolution makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly or intentionally appear nude in a public place or on private property outside a home when visible to others.
Violations can carry a fine of up to $500 and as much as 30 days in jail. The resolution includes exceptions for certain circumstances, including children under 10 and breastfeeding mothers.
The measure was specifically developed following the complaints about nude walks in the IXL neighborhood.
Tuesday’s arrest marks Barnard’s first arrest in connection with the behavior and the first arrest under the county’s public nudity resolution.
