Thursday, July 12, 2007

Smile

Upskirt Girl ...

(KSDK) - An Illinois man was charged with second-degree invasion of privacy after allegedly videotaping a woman at the St. Louis Zoo, police said.

Roy Gallion, 48, was aiming a video camera up the skirt of 21-year-old Karen Simoncelli, while she was in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium on Tuesday, police said.

Gallion, 48, ran out of the herpetarium after he was confronted by Simoncelli, police said.

Simoncelli, of St. Ann, Mo., and her mother notified a zoo ranger, who detained Gallion until police arrived. Police arrested Gallion and seized the video camera and seven tapes.

Gallion had videotaped several other females, police said.

In convicted, Gallion faces one day to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. [Full]
I've been pretty surprised that much of this digital snooping hasn't drawn more politicians into the ring.  I'm especially amazed that some courts have ruled that photographing women through their unshaded windows is lawful.  Common sense seems to equate that activity with being a peeping tom. That said, the First Amendment issues when capturing what is on public display, even if you have to lay on your back to see it, are dicey.  That's my opinion.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pity, the St.Louis Zoo was my favorite destination when I skipped in HS. I even met Marlin Perkins a couple of times and we chatted, he liked for people to appreciate his zoo, even truants. Now they'll have to put perv police around the snake house, seems more appropriate for Boston or San Francisco.

Anonymous said...

Is that wrong? She was checking out snakes after all.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm. Looks like those poor knees need some padding protection...for checking out those snakes.

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