Most Warm Sands Sex Sting Defendants Will Plead Guilty (But Avoid Sex Offender Scarlet Letter)

The Warm Sands public sex sting that cost Palm Springs police Chief David Dominguez his job is expected to finally come to an end with most of the 14 men accused of cruising for sex agreeing to a peal deal that will keep them from having to register as sex offenders — a contentious point in this whole affair, which had the men accusing the police of intentionally targeting gays in a deal with prosecutors. Last month a judge rejected the defendants’ attempt to dismiss the charges against them on discriminatory grounds, but prosecutors offered the men a deal where they’d plead guilty to disturbing the peace or lewd conduct, but not indecent exposure.