Anti-gay pastor Grant Storms has been convicted of obscenity after admitting to masturbating in a New Orleans park.

The right-wing Christian, who was notorious for organizing rallies against homosexuality, was found guilty of one count of obscenity and sentenced to three years probation at the US city’s 24th Judicial District Court yesterday (22 August).

Storms waived the right to a jury and in his confession claimed he pleasured himself in public because of the ‘thrill’ of it, reported New Orleans news source nola.com

Judge Ross LaDart also called for a psychological evaluation and the court heard how the incident which led to his arrest on 25 February, 2011, was the third time the cleric had masturbated in Lafreniere Park.

Storms reportedly told Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Kevin Balser that after taking a break from grass cutting to sip a beer in the park, he became ‘horny’ and put his hands into his underwear. He denies exposing himself though.

The preacher later apologized for the incident at a press conference, claiming he was ‘disoriented and confused’ at the time.

One witness to testify in court yesterday was nanny Maria Soto, who described how she was taking three children for a picnic in the part when she spotted Storms in the act.

Storms hit the headlines in 2003 for holding an anti-gay protest during the city’s annual Southern Decadence LGBT festival, calling New Orleans a ‘prostitute’ for allowing the event to take place.