WOODBURY — A 65-year-old known for dancing on street corners in Woodbury and West Deptford — and blocking vehicle and sidewalk traffic — faces lewdness and harassment charges after allegedly kissing a Dunkin Donuts' customer's hand and licking the woman's face, according to city police.

James J. Robinson, known as Woodbury's "dancing man," has not been seen in his dancing shoes in the two months since his Nov. 4 arrest in Woodbury, in which he allegedly approached a customer inside the Route 45 Dunkin Donuts, made "inappropriate sexual comments" to the woman and requested a kiss, police said.

When the woman, who police did not identify, said "no," Robinson allegedly kissed her hand then licked her face, according to Woodbury Police Detective Sgt. Thomas Ryan.

Robinson allegedly followed the woman to her car and continued to make inappropriate sexual comments, according to police.

The woman left the scene in her car and filed a report with city police.

Robinson was arrested three days later and held in the Burlington County jail on $2,500 full cash bail. He has since been released.

Robinson has been on Woodbury and West Deptford police departments’ radar for the last several years. The dancing — often to Marvin Gaye tunes pumping out of a cassette player mounted to his purple bike — has been considered a hazard to motorists in parts of both towns.

“We’ve just had traffic complaints,” said Ryan, adding that Robinson has been issued a summons for blocking sidewalks in Woodbury during his street performances.

West Deptford Police Chief Samuel DiSimone said his department worries that he’ll be hit by a car when he sidesteps from the sidewalk to the roadway. DiSimone said he’s also worried the spectacle could cause a car crash.

Robinson’s criminal record, however, has been a touchy subject for area police, DiSimone added.

In 1981, Robinson, then 33 and living in Woodstown, turned himself in to NJ State Police for the stabbing and rape of a Penns Grove girl. The girl was in critical condition after the attack.

Robinson was charged with aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 1981, and convicted in 1982 of sexual assault, attempted murder, and sexual assault, charges that were reduced through a plea agreement. He was sentenced to 20 years in state prison. Robinson was unsuccessful in an appeal in 1983.

“We’re aware of what he’s done in the past,” said DiSimone, whose department was aware that Robinson lived previously in West Deptford until just recently. “We can’t harass him or arrest him if he’s not doing anything ... then we get sued. We have to abide by the laws.”

Robinson, too, has to abide by the laws — even traffic laws.

“He’s allowed to dance on the corners. It’s freedom of speech,” DiSimone said, noting that Robinson has not been arrested in West Deptford.

The Dunkin Donuts incident in Woodbury was the first time Robinson has had a run-in with city police that ended with an arrest, according to Ryan.

The man, who police now believe lives in Woodbury, has made himself scarce since the November arrest, DiSimone and Ryan noted.

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Contact staff writer Carly Q. Romalino at 856-686-3655 or cromalino@southjerseymedia.com