The University of Arkansas student who ran a controversial Twitter account showing students working out has reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid conviction of felony charges of video voyeurism.
Caleb Lee Kordsmeier, 22, pleaded guilty Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court to two counts of felony video voyeurism. He reached a deal with prosecutors in which the suspect was sentenced to one year of probation, along with 50 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine, said Denis Dean, Washington County deputy prosecutor.
Kordsmeier could have faced a maximum of six years in prison for each voyeurism charge, Dean said.
Kordsmeier was arrested in March after police said he posted nude photographs of men in an exercise center locker room onto the Twitter account @hperprobsuark. He was released the same day from the Washington County Detention Center on $2,500 bond, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The @hperprobsuark Twitter handle tweeted 5NEWS in February to say the account’s user did not believe his Twitter account broke any laws because photographs were taken in a public space, the HPER workout center on the UA campus. Many of the pictures showed students who did not seem to know they were being photographed, and at least two pictures showed women sleeping around campus.
Dean told 5NEWS photographing anyone in any varying stages of undress without them knowing is a crime and a potential felony.
The handle’s user told 5NEWS police were concerned about a few pictures in the locker room, but that police were satisfied with the pictures being deleted.
University police interviewed Kordsmeier about the account Jan. 31, during which the suspect stated he created the account as a joke to post funny images from the exercise building. He admitted to taking two nude pictures in the men’s locker room and showed one of the pictures to an investigating officer, according to an arrest warrant affidavit from Washington County Circuit Court.
@hperprobsuark tweeted 5NEWS in February, “The main take home here is that I posted two locker room pics that were over the top and inappropriate, as well as in a place of EXPECTED privacy. That’s the main issue.”
