Wash. Court Rules on Voyeurism Law

From: AP Online Date: September 20, 2002 Author: PAUL QUEARY, Associated Press Writer

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ Photographing or videotaping up a woman's skirt in a public place doesn't violate a voyeurism law, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The unanimous ruling found that the law only protects people in places where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The court rejected prosecutors' arguments that people reasonably expect privacy under their clothing.

The ruling overturned the convictions of Sean Glas and Richard Sorrells.

"Although Glas' and Sorrells' actions are reprehensible, we agree that the voyeurism statute, as written, does not prohibit upskirt photography in a public location," wrote Justice Bobbe Bridge, one of four women on the nine-member court.

Prosecutors said Glas apparently planned to sell to an Internet site photographs he took at a mall in Union Gap. He was arrested in 1999 when women he photographed spotted him crouching near them.

Sorrels was arrested at a Seattle food festival after witnesses told police they saw him videotaping underneath little girls' dresses. Police found images taken up girls' and women's skirts on his camera.

The ruling cited laws in other states, including California, that are tailored to outlaw such actions. Douglas Ricks, Glas' attorney, said his client was obviously doing something wrong, but didn't break the law as written. Glas served six months in jail for the voyeurism conviction. He is currently serving a four-year prison term for statutory rape. A lawmaker said she planned to order legislation to close the loophole.