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Halifax Firefighter Charged With Exposing Himself, Harassing Teen Girl

PLYMOUTH (CBS) – A veteran Halifax firefighter was out on bail Friday night after he was arrested for allegedly exposing himself to a 14-year-old girl.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports

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Forty-one-year-old Matthew Paris pleaded not guilty in Plymouth District Court to charges of open and gross lewdness and accosting a minor.

According to prosecutors, Paris exposed himself on several occasions to the teenager, who was friends with Paris' own daughter.

The alleged incidents happened at Paris' home and in his car.

"He asked if she wanted to see his penis, and she said no," Prosecutor Joe Higgins said in court Friday. "But then she heard his zipper, and he had exposed himself."

WBZ-TV's Bill Shields reports

On another occasion, Paris allegedly had an erection when he walked into the room where the girl was, and he picked her up and tried to kiss her.

"The defendant did clothe himself, that he did pick her up by the waist, lifted her up, kissed her on the cheek, attempted to kiss her on the lips, that she turned her cheek, kissed her on the cheek and he told her that he missed her," Higgins told the court.

Just last week, police say the girl became so upset, she went to her parents, and together they reported the incidents to authorities.

Paris has no criminal history in Massachusetts.

He is due back in court February 23.

He was also ordered to stay away from the victim and anyone under the age of 17.

Paris has been with the Halifax Fire Department for 12 years.

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