Photographer sentenced for nude photos

PROVO — A professional wedding photographer was sentenced to 240 days in jail Monday for taking nude pictures of his girlfriend and an underage teen.

His arrest in October 2006 was the first time Matthew Stone, 36, had ever been in trouble with the law, said his attorney, Randy Spencer.

"He's never taken pictures like this before; he will never take pictures like this again," Spencer told Judge Samuel McVey in hopes of persuading him to allow Stone's entire jail sentence for two counts of second-degree felony child abuse be served with ankle GPS monitoring.

"Six months on GPS diversion would be an appropriate sentence," Spencer continued. "(He doesn't need) one more day in jail in order to (understand) the severity of the wrongs that he did."

However, McVey was firm that Stone would spend 60 days in custody then 180 days wearing the ankle tracking device because of his use of force in the situation.

In October, the 17-year-old girl and her friend went to Stone's Orem studio for some "glamour" shots, saying she was 18.

The girl said as the shoot progressed, both Bobette Wimmer, 36, and Stone encouraged her to take off clothes and pose sexually. Wimmer and Stone got involved in some of the sexual pictures, and Stone even tried to get the girl to perform a sex act.

Stone pleaded guilty in December to the two counts of child abuse and prosecutors agreed that if Stone successfully completes his 36 months of probation and required sex offender therapy, the charges on Stone's record could be lowered to class A misdemeanors.

McVey also instructed Stone to avoid pornography, which Stone had acknowledged he viewed, as it would have a negative impact on Stone's progress and future behavior.

During the sentencing, Spencer also told the judge that serving a jail sentence would be a hardship for Stone, who financially supports his ex-wife and five children.

"His time in jail may very well destroy the business he's been able to rebuild since he lost his business due to the publicity of this (case)," Spencer said. "He is very remorseful. He can't go back and change the bad mistakes he made."

However, prosecutor Doug Finch said he agreed with 60 days in jail then ankle monitoring, especially since it was similar to Wimmer's sentence.

Wimmer also pleaded guilty, but to 10 felonies of child abuse.

She was sentenced in August to 180 days in jail and allowed to be on GPS after 60 days.

Finch said the last time he spoke with the victim she was in agreement with Stone's recommended sentence.

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com