 |
|
||||||
| |||||||
This morning here in Los Angeles, the man accused of filming peephole nude videos of Erin Andrews, Michael David Barrett, pleaded not guilty to one count of interstate stalking.
Barrett’s trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 12.
Barrett faces five years in federal prison if convicted. Barring any unforeseen details of his defense, you would think he could be facing a maximum sentence. If he’s indeed guilty of the crimes, let’s hope so.
TMZ reports this afternoon from Michael Barrett’s court proceeding in L.A. that the judge presiding over the interstate stalking case has raised Barrett’s bail from $20,000 to $100,000, along with forbidding Erin Andrews‘ accused stalker from texting. Barrett was also ordered to turn over his passport and he can only phone immediate family members.
Barrett did post bail and was allowed to walk out of court a free man - for now.
Michael David Barrett, the man who stalked and filmed nude peephole video of Erin Andrews, had his first day in court in Los Angeles today:
Thankfully, the TMZ cameraman had the “submarine” lens setting fully enabled and was well-prepared to query Barrett with insightful questions - as you’ll see after the jump.
It’s been disconcerting to see the rather muted appearances of a college football fixture like Erin Andrews this season. Yes, she’s been around, and yes, she’s certainly got an excuse for a decreased presence, but we’ve been a little disheartened all the same. Has this whole peephole stalker thing really gotten to her?
If we had to guess, we’d say “yes, it has.” That’s because in her recent interview with FANHOUSE, Andrews still had good things to say about her job; she just also had good things to say about things that weren’t her job, namely cutting back her work and, in her words, starting a family.
Michael David Barrett, accused peephole video maker of Erin Andrews, got Madoffed today in Chicago as he sprinted to his car following his (temporary) release from the clink.
(Geez, can a guy get some privacy around here!)
Video after the jump. Read more…
Erin Andrews’ alleged stalker, Michael David Barrett, was released today by a Chicago court after posting $4,500 bond.
(Michael David Barrett was released from Chicago court today)
U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys, who prefaced his judgement by saying, “If the allegations are true, they’re horrific“, ordered Barrett to be home confined between 9p and 6a. Barrett will wear a monitoring anklet and will not be allowed internet access for two weeks. He was also ordered to relinquish his passport by tomorrow morning, and he’s not allowed to leave the Chicago area. Read more…
One of the mysteries of the Erin Andrews peephole video case involving alleged stalker Michael David Barrett is exactly the process of Barrett obtaining a room next to Andrews - a room that would also facilitate not being detected during a lengthy peephole alteration and filming process.
(Why has no one accused hotel employees of complicity in the room bookings?)
Those are questions now thankfully being asked by Andrews’ attorney, Marshall Grossman.
Grossman said the Nashville hotel staff was familiar with Andrews and other ESPN personnel.
“One can’t pass this off to simple ignorance,” said Grossman, adding that the incident highlighted the potential for more disastrous consequences.
“You don’t have to extrapolate very far from this to think in terms of somebody out to do even more harm and greater mischief than taping someone,” Grossman said.
So not only did hotel employees facilitate a complete stranger(?) by booking a room in a special area of the hotel where he couldn’t be detected outside her door, but the hacks at the hotel also knew Andrews - and never bothered to ask her if she knew Barrett.
Appalling.
Here’s the first photographic glimpse of Michael David Barrett, the man accused of making nude peephole video of ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews:
(Credit: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES)
Barrett is due in court this morning for a bond hearing. Read more…
Here’s an artist’s rendering of Michael David Barrett, the man accused of stalking and filming peephole videos of Erin Andrews:
(Credit: Associated Press)
He’ll appear in court again on Monday. That’s when a Chicago judge will determine if he’ll be released on bond and allowed to travel alone to Los Angeles where he faces interstate stalking charges. Those charges carry a max penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Despite his reportedly clean record, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think that Barrett could be a flight risk.
Now for the most perplexing part of this whole case. Read more…
Michael David Barrett appeared in a Chicago court this morning “looking tan and dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit.”
After a brief, five minute appearance, a judge will now decide on Monday if Barrett will be released on bond that day to travel alone to Los Angeles to face charges in a U.S. District Court, where he’s accused of trying to sell naked videos of Erin Andrews to TMZ.
Characterized as a “stocky insurance company employee“, Barrett’s lawyer, who described himself as a longtime friend of the suspect, expressed profound surprise over Barrett’s alleged actions.
FBI detainee Michael David Barrett, 48, stands accused of recording peephole videos of Erin Andrews in Nashville and Milwaukee hotel rooms in 2008.
The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports Barrett was returning from Buffalo when he was arrested at Chicago O’Hare Airport on Friday night and charged with “interstate stalking for taking the videos, posting the videos online and trying to sell them to celebrity Web site TMZ.”
Barrett’s initial court appearance is Saturday morning in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Read more…
