Forty people face a variety of charges including lewdness and indecency, after an undercover sting at a scenic overlook in Fayette County, according to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.

The sting began in late September after sheriff's deputies received several complaints about illegal activity at Scenic Overlook Park, which is a rest area on the north side of State Highway 71 near the Fayette/Bastrop County line.

The complaint alleged there was underage drinking, drug use and lewd behavior at the park, so the sheriff sent an undercover investigator to check it out.

Sheriff's officials say the results of the sting shocked them. Investigators filed 53 charges, including indecency with a child by exposure, public lewdness, indecent exposure and delivery of marijuana.

"We want our Fayette County citizens to feel safe and we also have an obligation to make sure anyone passing through our county also feels comfortable to stop and use our rest area," said Sheriff Keith Korenek, Fayette County, in a news release. "To say the least, we are very disturbed by the results of this undercover investigation."

Of the 40 people arrested, eight are from Travis County, 12 from Bastrop County, three from Hays County and five from Fayette County.

"To put the magnitude of this problem into perspective, our investigator arrested nine defendants and filed 11 charges in just three days," Korenek said.

So far, one person has been indicted and 52 other charges are pending.

Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office at 979-968-5856 or email narcotics@co.fayette.tx.us.