Peeping Tom sentenced to jail, treatment for voyeurism

A judge Friday sentenced a man who police believe is a serial Peeping Tom to a jail term and ordered that he get offender treatment.

Third District Judge Michele Christiansen sentenced Brian Richard Lee, 45, to 180 days on each of five counts of voyeurism, all class B misdemeanors. The jail terms are to run consecutively, but Lee will get credit for the 170 days he has already spent behind bars.

Christiansen also put Lee on probation for a year and ruled that he cannot be around anyone under age 18, including family members. The judge also ordered Lee to enter into a sex-offender treatment program. She emphasized that he must "successfully" complete the program because it appears he has undergone such counseling in the past, but it has not served as a deterrent to improper conduct.

Lee was arrested last year after police said he was discovered hiding in the girls locker room at Brighton High School during a dance recital. One of the girls told police she saw some movement behind a shower curtain. She pulled the curtain open, and she and four other girls spotted Lee, who had been crouching there. He quickly stood up and fled.

Several girls ran after him into the parking lot and used their cell phones to call police.

Lee's defense attorney, Erin Eliason, said there had been a misunderstanding with initial information regarding Lee. The man did not have his pants down during this encounter, Eliason said. Evidence at a preliminary hearing showed that Lee emerged from the area simply adjusting his pants, which were up.

The attorney also told the court that Lee has taken part in programs for addiction and mental-health difficulties while in jail.

Prosecutor Mandy Rose said Lee had nine similar convictions, including six in the past four years. Rose said Lee has been in treatment before, and it appears he has not learned anything from previous experiences.

Lee said little at his sentencing, other than to tell the judge that he wants to be in a program to address these issues.

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