Robert Gilmore, also known as Simon, walks along 10th Street in this file photo.

He’s known to law enforcement officials as Robert Gilmore. And workers at homeless shelters in Lawrence know him as Simon.

Those are the people who come in contact most often with the man – a 49-year-old transient – who makes his home mostly in jail or on the streets of downtown Lawrence.

“The thing I know about him is there’s always a couple people in town, usually older, kind-hearted women, who will let him in their garages for a while,” said Herman Leon, who was once a member of the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen.

But Gilmore usually stays on the streets in or near downtown Lawrence – or in jail.

Those who know him say Gilmore would rather be without the help that’s available to other homeless residents in Lawrence.

“He still needs, and he won’t accept help that he’s offered,” said Diane Morgan of the Lawrence Community Shelter.

Recently, Gilmore, a one-time Kansas University student who has since become an enigmatic member of Lawrence’s homeless community, returned to the county’s jail logs. He was arrested twice in the last two weeks for violating Lawrence’s camping ordinance.

Before that, he had spent between 60 and 90 days in jail as part of an agreement he struck at Lawrence Municipal Court after a series of arrests in 2006, according to Jerry Little, city prosecutor.

Court records show Gilmore was arrested 12 times for illegal camping in 2006 alone. His arrest record before 2006 is sprinkled with dozens of charges going back to at least 1999.

Gilmore has become a regular at city court, a situation that perplexes Little.

“I have met with him on several occasions to try to work something out, give him a place to stay,” Little said. “He just doesn’t want to talk about it. He basically wants to stay in jail for as long as he wants.”

When Gilmore’s not in jail, he frequents the corner of Ninth and Massachusetts streets, near the entrance of Weaver’s Department Store.

“I don’t know why he’s got this thing for Weaver’s,” Little said. “I think it’s in part because Weaver’s keeps calling (the police) on him.”

Joe Flannery, president of Weaver’s, shares Little’s frustration about not knowing what to do with Gilmore, who reappeared near Flannery’s store after his most recent jail stay.

“In years past, he’s been there on zero-degree nights when he could have chosen to go to The Salvation Army or Community Shelter,” Flannery said. “But he chose to sleep on the sidewalk.”

While Gilmore has said in Municipal Court that he’d prefer to stay in jail, it appears unlikely that Gilmore would receive the six-month maximum sentence for violating the city’s camping ordinance. That’s because he’s not a threat to others.

“It’s a cost to the taxpayers when he’s not necessarily a threat to anybody,” he said, noting the $50 daily cost.

Gilmore doesn’t appear to have regular contact with anyone in Lawrence.

Leon said he tried to work with Gilmore about a year ago to find permanent housing.

“That’s when he broke off communication with me,” Leon said.

How long Gilmore will stay out of jail and what his future holds is anyone’s guess.

“It’s a pitiful situation,” Leon said. “It’s a tragic situation.”