Charges dropped in Little Mud arrests
TCN reports every case abandoned and warns beachgoers to avoid non-designated and closed construction areas
Eight people arrested near Little Mud Creek Beach in October—an incident that drew national attention and stirred concern across Florida’s naturist community—have now had all charges dismissed. The update came today in the newsletter of the Treasure Coast Naturists (TCN), which detailed the outcomes of the cases and cautioned visitors to remain within the clearly marked clothing-optional boundaries at Blind Creek Beach.
Little Mud Creek Beach sits roughly a mile north of Blind Creek Beach, just beyond the boundary of St. Lucie County’s only designated clothing-optional zone. The area has never been approved for nude recreation, but with Blind Creek’s main parking lot closed for renovation for most of the year, some visitors began entering the shoreline through the Little Mud trailhead instead. That shift nudged unsuspecting beachgoers into non-designated territory—setting the stage for the arrests that followed.
As Planet Nude reported in October, six people were initially arrested near Little Mud Creek Beach in late October after deputies charged them with indecent exposure outside the designated clothing-optional zone. Local and national media subsequently picked up the story, amplifying the sheriff’s office’s decision to post the mugshots on Facebook. Soon afterward, two additional arrests occurred under similar circumstances, bringing the total to eight.
In its latest update, Treasure Coast Naturists (TCN) confirmed that all eight cases have now been dismissed or abandoned. The group connected several of the arrestees with attorney Cliff Barnes—a former St. Lucie County judge and commissioner—while others retained their own counsel. Between Barnes and the additional attorneys, all charges were ultimately dropped.
TCN hopes the outcome will serve as a corrective for local enforcement. Florida’s indecent exposure statute, § 800.03, requires lewd or sexual intent for a violation to occur; mere nudity does not meet that threshold. “Simply being nude is not illegal,” the group wrote, adding that they hope the resolution “will help educate our new Sheriff on the legality of simple nudity.”
Still, TCN continues to urge beachgoers to stay within the clearly designated clothing-optional boundaries. The group also reported a separate incident in which two people were arrested for trespassing after cutting through the closed construction zone at the main Blind Creek parking area. Although the pair received misdemeanor charges, trespassing in a construction zone can carry felony penalties.
These developments land at a sensitive moment for naturism in Florida. Advocates in the state are currently lobbying for a new family-friendly clothing-optional beach on the Gulf Coast—an effort that depends on demonstrating that lawful nude recreation can coexist peacefully with local communities. Incidents that frame naturists as disorderly or criminal, especially when amplified by press coverage, risk undermining that work and hardening political resistance. As Florida navigates both new openings and renewed pressures, groups on the ground emphasize that careful stewardship of existing nude beaches remains essential to any future progress. 🪐
Disclosure: The author volunteers with the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and the B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, organizations involved in naturist advocacy across Florida.
That's good as I wrote in the previous story on this it was rather harsh and may have been some officers letting personal opinions get in the way.
We were out at Blind Creek two weeks ago and the main parking area was STILL closed. They are really upgrading the place -- including water and sewer -- but the work has gone on for months. We walked one mile in each direction between the Little Mud parking lot and the clothing-optional beach area. I'm going to flag the county for unnecessary roughness! It's almost as if they are dragging their feet on the project purposely.