San Jose police sergeant charged with indecent exposure

James Rainey Mason, 48, a sergeant with the San Jose Police Department, was charged with indecent exposure for allegedly exposing himself to a woman while masturbating in a car in Redwood City in Sept. 4, 2015. James Rainey Mason, 48, a sergeant with the San Jose Police Department, was charged with indecent exposure for allegedly exposing himself to a woman while masturbating in a car in Redwood City in Sept. 4, 2015. Photo: Courtesy, San Mateo County Sheriff Photo: Courtesy, San Mateo County Sheriff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close San Jose police sergeant charged with indecent exposure 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A San Jose police sergeant was put on administrative leave and is facing misdemeanor charges after he allegedly exposed himself to a woman while masturbating in a car on a busy road in Redwood City this month, prosecutors said.

James Rainey Mason, a 13-year veteran of the department, is facing one charge each of indecent exposure and committing a lewd act in public for the Sept. 4 incident, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Around 5:15 p.m., the victim, an unidentified 39-year-old woman, was walking on the 1400 block of Woodside Road when she glanced into a dark green Acura and saw Mason with his penis out of his pants masturbating, Wagstaffe said.

The victim looked away and continued walking, according to Wagstaffe, but Mason allegedly began cruising alongside the woman.

It was then that the woman took out her cell phone and began taking pictures of both Mason and his license plate, Wagstaffe said, at which point Mason realized his picture was being taken and sped off.

The woman called the police and turned the pictures over to them, and Wagstaffe said a Redwood City Police officer who had formerly worked in San Jose, recognized Mason and identified him immediately.

Investigators also matched the cell phone pictures to Mason’s photo on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles and had the victim pick him out of a photo line up, Wagstaffe said.

On Sept. 8, Wagstaffe took the evidence to a judge who issued a warrant for Mason’s arrest. Mason turned himself in to authorities on Sept. 11, but was immediately released on bail of $15,000.

“This is an unfortunate situation and we were disappointed to hear of the allegations against Sgt. Mason,” said Officer Albert Morales, a spokesman for the San Jose Police Department.

Mason is scheduled to appear in court in Redwood City Oct. 8, Wagstaffe said.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale