Responding to charges related to public masturbation, Nittany Lion basketball player Stanley Pringle told police he had his hands down his pants but was not masturbating.

Centre County District Judge Jonathan Grine signed a criminal complaint today leveling charges of disorderly conduct and open lewdness against Pringle, the team's point guard. The charges were sent to Grine Wednesday but the complaint remained unsigned until he returned to the office.

The charges stem from an incident last Thursday at Pattee Library where a woman said an unknown man, whom police later identified as Pringle, sat behind her in the stacks section, attempted to start a conversation and then began masturbating.

According to the criminal complaint, Pringle asked the victim if she wanted to purchase some hand lotion that he was selling for the basketball team.

The victim then reported hearing a "smacking sound, like Pringle's hand was smacking against the skin of his body," and said Pringle began making moaning sounds after answering his cell phone, according to the criminal complaint.

Pringle denied to police that he was masturbating and said he has a bad habit of putting his hands down his pants, according to the criminal complaint.

"This is how I chill ma'am," Pringle told an officer, placing his hand down the front of his sweatpants, according to the criminal complaint.

Check Monday's Daily Collegian for the full story.