A shocking and deeply disturbing incident has once again drawn public attention to Calese Carron Crowder, a 38-year-old registered sex offender from Glendale, California. On Tuesday, Crowder was arrested for allegedly sniffing a woman’s rear end at a Nordstrom Rack located in the Empire Center in Burbank. This case, far from being his first offense, continues a troubling pattern of lewd behavior that spans multiple years and locations across Southern California.
According to police, Crowder was spotted loitering suspiciously in the women’s department of the store. Surveillance footage later revealed him following a female shopper and then crouching behind her in what appeared to be an attempt to sniff her buttocks. It was this footage that led store employees to contact law enforcement, prompting a swift investigation.
Crowder did not leave the shopping center after the Nordstrom incident. Officers later located him at a nearby Walmart, where he was reportedly engaging in similar behavior—lurking around female shoppers and appearing to sniff them from behind. His arrest marked yet another chapter in a long and disturbing history of sexually inappropriate conduct, mostly targeting women in public retail spaces.
A Pattern of Repeated Offenses and Public Disturbances
Calese Carron Crowder’s arrest is not an isolated incident. In fact, his name first came to the attention of the public in August 2023 when content creator Michaela Witter posted a now-viral TikTok video. In the video, Crowder was seen allegedly sniffing Witter’s backside at a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Burbank. When confronted, Crowder claimed he was simply tying his shoelaces. However, Witter and several other witnesses were unconvinced by his explanation.
The TikTok video rapidly gained traction online, leading other women to come forward with their own experiences. Several claimed they had been similarly targeted by Calese Carron Crowder in different retail environments, including Urban Outfitters and Marshalls. Some described him as “creepy” and “intensely disturbing,” with a behavior pattern that felt both invasive and deliberate.
These incidents have revealed a disturbing modus operandi: Crowder appears to frequent women-centric retail stores, positions himself behind unsuspecting shoppers, and crouches as if performing some innocent task while allegedly committing the act of sniffing women’s buttocks. Despite his repeated arrests and criminal record, Crowder has continued to find opportunities to commit similar offenses, often within months of being released from custody.
Previous Arrests, Criminal History, and Legal Consequences
Calese Carron Crowder’s criminal history is extensive. Long before his recent arrests for lewd behavior, he had already served prison time for more conventional crimes, including burglary and robbery. In February 2023, he was sentenced to a year in jail for indecent exposure in Santa Clarita, a conviction that should have kept him off the streets longer. However, he was released early, a move that law enforcement officials now say may have been a mistake.
Just months later, in August 2023, Crowder was again arrested—this time for peeping and prowling at a Glendale residence where children were present. That particular arrest raised serious concerns about the escalating nature of his behavior. From retail store sniffing incidents to trespassing near family homes, Crowder’s actions suggested a deepening disregard for both legal boundaries and public safety.
The Tuesday arrest at Nordstrom Rack resulted in charges of loitering with the intent to commit a crime. Calese Carron Crowder was held on $100,000 bail and is currently in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 1, and depending on the outcome, he could be facing more severe consequences this time, especially given his parole status and prior record.
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Crowder’s case underscores a broader issue within the criminal justice system: how to effectively manage and rehabilitate individuals with persistent sexually deviant behavior. Despite multiple convictions, court-ordered jail time, and his registration as a sex offender, Crowder continues to reoffend. This has led to questions about whether the current legal and correctional frameworks are adequate to protect the public from such repeated violations.
Public Reaction and Social Media Impact
The public’s reaction to Calese Carron Crowder’s repeated offenses has been a mixture of outrage, disbelief, and concern. Michaela Witter’s TikTok video not only brought attention to the individual but also opened up a wider conversation about safety in public spaces. Women, in particular, expressed their discomfort with the idea that someone could repeatedly engage in such behavior, often without significant immediate consequences.
Many social media users questioned how someone with such a record could still be free to roam around popular shopping centers. Others criticized the apparent leniency in the justice system that allowed Crowder to be released early from jail. The video led to widespread sharing of safety tips, personal stories, and discussions about what women can do to protect themselves in public places—though many also highlighted that the burden shouldn’t fall solely on potential victims.
Some stores have since reviewed their in-store surveillance practices and increased staff vigilance in response to the incident. There is growing demand for retail environments to implement stronger safety protocols, including better training for employees on how to spot and respond to suspicious behavior quickly.
As Calese Carron Crowder awaits his next court hearing, the legal system faces yet another opportunity to evaluate how best to deal with repeat offenders like him. His case is not just about one man’s disturbing actions—it’s about a system struggling to balance rehabilitation with public protection.
Crowder’s repeated targeting of women in retail stores has turned what might seem like isolated, bizarre behavior into a more alarming pattern of predatory conduct. Whether his actions are the result of untreated psychological issues, an intentional pattern of deviance, or a combination of both, the legal outcome of this latest arrest could set a precedent for how similarly unusual but harmful behaviors are addressed in the future.
There’s also a growing call among the public and victim advocacy groups for better mental health support and post-release monitoring for individuals with a history of sexual misconduct. The hope is that such measures could prevent future incidents and protect the public more effectively than the current system has managed to do.
In the meantime, the victims—both confirmed and alleged—are left dealing with the psychological and emotional impact of such invasions of personal space. The sense of vulnerability experienced in what should be safe public spaces like bookstores and department stores has, for many, been deeply shaken.
As the case unfolds and the court determines Calese Carron Crowder’s fate, many in California and beyond will be watching closely—not just out of curiosity, but out of concern for public safety and justice.