Three of the 12 men arrested for illegal sexual activity in the Science Center men's room in January admitted to the reduced charge of indecent exposure yesterday in Cambridge District Court, court records said.

Judge Paul Menton ordered each of the men to pay $230 in court fees and continued their cases without a finding for one year, according to the case dockets. The decision means that the men will have no criminal record if they comply with probation conditions.

At yesterday's hearing, the District Attorney's office agreed to reduce the charges to misdemeanors, court douments said. Stephen F. Brown and Michael Trombley, both of Boston, and John Denault of Cambridge, were arrested January 31 and originally charged with the felony of "open and gross lewdness," according to police records.

Harvard police said they arrested a total of 12 men during January for lewdness in the Science Center men's room.

The basement-level bathroom has reportedly been a site for gay men to engage in anonymous sex. In addition, University officials say Harvard employees have reported incidents of sexual harassment in the lavatory.

After a meeting February 9 with gay student leaders, Harvard Vice President and General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54 said he would ask prosecutors to have the cases continued without a finding. Steiner also agreed to place permanent signs in the bathroom informing the public that the area is regularly patrolled by police.

At a hearing February 13, seven of the men arrested had their cases continued without a finding. However, Judge Arthur Sherman '50 assessed those men more than $300 in court costs.

Two of the original 12 cases remain outstanding, court records said.

According to court papers, Robert F. Burns of East Boston and Lawrence R. Countryman '83 of Cambridge have not admitted to the lewdness charges. Their cases are scheduled for trial on March 16, court officials said.