Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
Gainesville, FL – A University of Florida religion professor who was arrested last year for video voyeurism after deputies claim he secretly recorded a teenage girl has been sentenced to five years’ probation.
The 54-year-old was arrested in October on charges of video voyeurism and possession of obscene material.
He allegedly put a USB recording device in the teenage family member’s closet in October 2014 to capture her actions on video, according to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Of the seven video files the device contained, two apparently had content.
One of those videos apparently showed the man putting the device in the closet and repeatedly stepping back to check its location, while the other showed the teenager in just her underwear, the report said.
Earlier this month, the man pleaded no contest to one count of video voyeurism, court records show. He was sentenced to five years of supervised probation and must continue with counseling for at least 30 months.
He also is prohibited from possessing pornographic material and is subject to court-ordered restrictions regarding unsupervised contact with minors.
A judge withheld adjudication of guilt in the man’s case.
The man is currently on paid leave, has no professional duties at the university right now and remains banned from the grounds, according to a spokeswoman for the university.
A voyeur, also known as a “peeping Tom,” is someone who gains sexual gratification from watching others in secret. Voyeurism is a sexual offense that is illegal and carries serious consequences. Voyeurism is a felony crime that could result in time behind bars, which is why these charges must be dealt with accordingly. Sexually based offenses are never taken lightly by prosecutors, so you must not ignore such accusations or think you can clear any misunderstandings up on your own by speaking with police.
As soon as you have been accused of voyeurism, the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to obtain legal help. An Alachua County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can make sure you are fully aware of the charges against you and what needs to be done to try and achieve the best possible outcome. Sex crimes cases are highly unique – no two cases are the same – which is why you need to act fast and work with an attorney who can develop the best defense strategy for your case.
If you are facing a sex crimes charge in Gainesville or the surrounding areas, call us today at 352-264-7800 or contact us online to request a free consultation. We will explain the charges you are facing and answer any questions you have.