A service station employee caught installing digital cameras in a customer washroom was spared jail Thursday, but not a criminal record.
Kevin Dion pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism and was sentenced to two years supervised probation. Judge Lynne Stannard rejected a defence request Dion receive a conditional discharge.
“This was a serious breach of privacy for anyone who went into that washroom that day. It’s a serious attack on the dignity of people,” Stannard said.
“I do have to send a message to the community that this kind of attack on people’s privacy cannot be treated leniently by the court.”
Crown attorney Wendy Friesen told court the owner of the Henderson Highway Esso station was using the unisex washroom on March 4, 2009, when she spotted two small digital cameras hidden in the ceiling tiles.
“While she was waiting for police to attend, the accused went up to her and admitted he had put the cameras in the bathroom,” Friesen said. “He advised his employer he had a problem with pornography.”
Police downloaded pictures from the cameras, which did not include any images of people using the washroom.
It was unclear in court how long Dion had been hiding the cameras in the washroom or if police found illegal images on a home computer or elsewhere.
Court heard Dion is undergoing “intensive” counselling.
Dion is ashamed and embarrassed by his actions, said his lawyer David Thau-Eleff.
“Denunciation and deterrence has been addressed by virtue of his contact with the justice system,” Thau-Eleff said. “This hasn’t been pleasant for him.”
I agree with supervised probation for this man. He should be required to attend intensive counseling and treatment for his pornography issue. I would also like to know any mitigating factors in this case.
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