A Vian man faces felony charges of indecent exposure and lewd molestation after he reportedly touched a child under the age of 16 inappropriately on more than one occasion. A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Thomas M. Petit, 63, on Aug. 30, the same day he was formally charged.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Investigator Cindy Smith received a report from deputy Eric Cope, stating on June 11 that he took a report at the Sheriff’s Office in reference to incidents involving Petit and two children under 16 years of age.

On May 31 the reporting party told authorities one of the children told the reporting party Petit had stood at the front door with no clothes on while the two children were playing outside. The child said Petit walked away from the door but came back and stood there a little while, still wearing no clothes. The child said when Petit came back the second time he told them he was going to take a shower.

Approximately an hour later the reporting party said the child said Petit had allegedly put his hand inside the child’s pants on the same day.

According to the affidavit, Cope and a representative went to the residence but were unable to make contact with anyone there or by phone.

Both the children were set for forensic interviews on June 12 by a representative with the Children’s Advocacy Center in Salli-saw, with both Cope and an Oklahoma Department of Human Services caseworker present.

One of the children said while alone with Petit in May 2018, he did inappropriate things to the child. The child said while playing with another child outside, Petit came to the door wearing a shirt and underwear and told them he was going to take a shower. The child said Petit then came back to the door wearing no clothes at all. The child said Petit did not say anything at that time.

The child said on another day during the same time period, Petit allegedly put his hand down the child’s pants, underneath the child’s undergarments and touched the child inappropriately. The child said Petit did not say anything at that time but removed his hand.

The child told the caseworker about another incident that occurred when Petit got up, leaned over and reportedly placed his hand down the child’s pants. The child said Petit placed his hand underneath the child’s undergarments and reportedly touched the child inappropriately.

The child claimed on yet another occasion, Petit reportedly did the same thing.

A forensic interview with the second child was done on June 12. The second child said Petit went to take a shower but the child never indicated Petit was seen without his clothing on.

Petit was interviewed at the Sheriff’s Office on June 14 and agreed to speak with investigators concerning allegations that he’d touched the child inappropriately.

Pettit said there had been an incident at his residence. He said the children were outside and he wanted to take a shower so he went to check on them with a towel wrapped around his waist. Pettit claimed while checking on the children he’d dropped the towel, exposing himself.

Cope then asked Petit if there’d ever been any inappropriate touching and Petit denied the allegation. When asked about allegations of him touching the child on separate occasions, Petit said he did not remember doing any of those things but it was a possibility as he drinks alcohol. Pettit gave a written statement and then left the Sheriff’s Office.

If found guilty of the crimes, Petit faces up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine up to $20,000 or both on the indecent exposure charge, and imprisonment for not less than 25 years in the Department of Corrections on the lewd molestation charge.