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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A jury was seated Tuesday in the long-delayed trial of a Luzerne man accused of exposing himself at a flea market in Plymouth.</p><p>Clark Van Orden, 68, faces proceedings before Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough on charges of indecent exposure, open lewdness and disorderly conduct.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint, Van Orden was at the opening of a flea market in Fainberg&#8217;s Furniture store on Dec. 10, 2016, when he allegedly exposed himself while at a table where flea market co-owner, Nancy McEntee, was also seated.</p><p>Van Orden was at Fainberg&#8217;s on a freelance photo assignment for the Times Leader Media Group.</p><p>After a short period of jury selection, a jury made up of nine women and three men was selected. One male and one female alternate juror also were selected.</p><p><strong>Prosecution&#8217;s opening</strong></p><p>Assistant District Attorney Angela Sperrazza said to jurors in her opening statements that crimes like the ones Van Orden is accused of break down people&#8217;s sense of safety.</p><p>&#8220;They deprive people of the ability to feel secure where they are,&#8221; she said.</p><p>According to Sperrazza, McEntee told police she saw Van Orden fidgeting at the table with his hands under the table.</p><p>Sperrazza said that when Van Orden stood up, Van Orden&#8217;s penis was out of his pants.</p><p>&#8220;&#8216;What are you doing?&#8217;&#8221; shouted Sperrazza, quoting McEntee.</p><p>She told jurors Van Orden stammered &#8220;I don&#8217;t know,&#8221; before McEntee told him to leave.</p><p><strong>Defense&#8217;s opening</strong></p><p>Defense attorney Joseph Sklarosky, though, called McEntee&#8217;s claims totally false.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s going to tell you at no point did he expose his penis or any other part of his anatomy,&#8221; Sklarosky said.</p><p>Sklarosky compared the case against Van Orden to the recent case of actor Jussie Smollett, who originally reported he had been a victim of a hate crime in Chicago. Police in that city are now investigating Smollett for having allegedly orchestrated the attack against him for personal gain.</p><p>&#8220;Things like that happen right here in Luzerne County, too,&#8221; he said.</p><p>According to Sklarosky, McEntee and her husband, Patrick, who also co-owns the flea market, are simply trying to make money.</p><p>&#8220;This is a shakedown to get some money from the Times Leader and they&#8217;re using this man,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Van Orden was an independent contractor for the newspaper at the time of the incident and not an employee.</p><p>After opening statements, Vough adjourned proceedings for the day, ordering jurors to return to the courthouse by 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Proceedings will begin early on Wednesday, Vough said, in an attempt to beat the incoming snowstorm.</p><p>Van Orden has been free on his own recognizance since charges were filed in early 2017.</p><p>Proceedings could last for several days.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Clark-Van-Orden-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Van Orden </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_Clark-Van-Orden-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Van Orden </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Photographer’s indecent exposure trial starts with jury selection, opening statements