Man Sentenced in Videotaping of Neighbors
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A man who secretly videotaped his neighbors was sentenced Monday to six years in state prison.
Dennis Wayne Saunders, 48, of Sebastopol, was arrested in November when he was caught taping a woman neighbor. A search of his home turned up more than 60 videotapes of unsuspecting women undressing and couples having sex.
One of the couples lived right below him. He admitted drilling a hole in his floor and taping them over 17 months.
Saunders originally was charged with eight felony counts each of burglary and electronic eavesdropping and seven misdemeanor counts of peeping and loitering.
He pleaded guilty last month to one count of first-degree burglary in a plea bargain offered by the district attorney.
Saunders read a statement to Sonoma County Municipal Judge Mark Tansil expressing remorse and claiming he deserved leniency because he is a sex addict.
“The burglary was not committed for stealing property or to assault someone,” said Tansil. “The only reason for entering the home was for the sexual gratification of the defendant.”
Tansil also ordered Saunders to pay a $1,000 restitution fine and to register as a sex offender.
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