Where Michael David Barrett is headed, he may not want to know what’s on the other side of a peep hole. He’s off to prison.
The Chicago-area man was sentenced Monday afternoon in Los Angeles federal court to 2 1/2 years in prison for taking nude videos of ESPN television personality Erin Andrews through hotel peep holes and posting them on the Internet after a celebrity website TMZ.com rejected his offer to buy them.
U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real also ordered Barrett, 49, of Westmont, Ill., to pay $7,366 in restitution to Andrews.
The judge noted that Andrews will suffer from Barrett’s conduct the rest of her life, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Barrett pleaded guilty December 15 to a federal charge of interstate stalking with the intent to harass and to cause substantial emotional distress.
Barrett stalked Erin Andrews for 18 months and removed the hotel door peep holes to record videos of her nude.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Andrews spoke during the sentencing and said she suffers from fear, anxiety and public humiliation as a result of the actions. She noted that the videos will always be on the Internet.
“I’m being victimized every day…and I did nothing to deserve it,” Ms. Andrews said., adding the videos will likely always be on the Internet.
