11.10.23 – Oil City News – Casper WY
He pleaded guilty to three counts of clandestine viewing in an area where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. He also pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and property destruction. The ceiling damage was valued at about $500.
A 59-year-old Wyoming man pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of voyeurism stemming from an investigation at a Casper Dairy Queen over a year ago.
Police believe he was in the ceiling of the women’s restroom for about four hours on the night of Sept 7, 2022, according to the affidavit by Detective Leonard Jacobs with the Casper Police Department.
Police responded to an alarm at the restaurant just before midnight, almost half an hour after the last employee had left.
Officers found that part of the drop ceiling over a stall in the women’s restroom had collapsed. A black nylon rope and carabiner were found rigged to a crossbeam.
Investigators also found a black shirt and black hat in the ceiling. They noted that all the clothing items and gear were relatively clean (i.e., recent to the ceiling) and did not seem to comport with maintenance work.
Shoeprints were also observed on the plaster walls, sink and plastic light covers.
There were three female employees who had worked that shift and had gone into the restroom that night. One reported hearing “movement” or “shifting” and noticed that one of the ceiling tiles had been moved off its bracket, leaving a small gap.
A review of the security footage showed a thin white man in a black shirt, black jeans and black hat enter the restaurant at 7:46 p.m., go past the men’s restroom and disappear down the hallway. The only other door down the hallway was the women’s restroom, Detective Jacobs learned.
The suspect is seen again leaving the hallway at 11:50 p.m., just before the alarm went off.
Detective Jacobs compared the man in the footage to a Gillette Police Department mugshot of Jeffery Patrick Bell and observed similarities including a protruding chin and widow’s peak hairline, the affidavit said.
DNA evidence from the clothes and items found in the ceiling also came back as a match for Bell, the affidavit said.
Bell appeared in circuit court Thursday after transport from the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington, where he is currently serving six to eight years after a probation revocation for a felony theft conviction, according to court records.
Bell told Circuit Court Judge Brian Chistensen he was hoping to resolve this Natrona County case while serving his other sentence.
When the charges of voyeurism were read, Bell insisted he “didn’t have a camera or anything,” but still wished to plead guilty.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of clandestine viewing in an area where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. He also pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and property destruction. The ceiling damage was valued at about $500.
After taking Bell’s plea, Judge Christensen asked Assistant DA Stephanie Arrache about a sentence recommendation.
Arrache started by going over some of the details of the investigation. It was the first time they were discussed during the hearing.
Judge Chistensen imposed a 270-day sentence, which Bell could serve while doing his six to eight years in state prison.
“One thing, your honor,” Bell said after the sentence was rendered.
“Yes?” Judge Christensen asked.
“I didn’t do this.”
“Well, you pleaded guilty to it, so that will be the order,” Judge Christensen said.
