Man pleads not guilty in Andrews stalking case
Barrett, 48, allegedly shot video of ESPN reporter through hotel peephole
 | Prosecutors say Michael Barrett found hotels where Erin Andrews was staying three times last year. They say he rented an adjacent room, altered the peephole and shot videos of Andrews. |
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LOS ANGELES - An Illinois insurance executive accused of secretly making nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews pleaded not guilty Monday to interstate stalking.
Michael Barrett, 48, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Barrett is suspected of finding three hotels where Andrews was staying last year. He rented an adjacent room, altered the peephole and shot videos of Andrews, authorities said.
The videos were shot in Columbus, Ohio, in February 2008; Nashville, Tenn., seven months later; and Milwaukee, Wis., in July 2008, authorities said.
Barrett is accused of uploading the videos to the Internet and trying to sell them to celebrity gossip site TMZ earlier this year. Several TV networks and newspapers have aired or published images of Andrews taken from the videos.
If convicted, Barrett could face up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. He was scheduled to return to court Jan. 12.
Barrett remained free after posting a bond of $100,000 on Friday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Turchin set the amount after Andrews’ attorney Marshall Grossman called Barrett’s alleged behavior calculated, cunning and secretive and said he posed a threat to the public.
Barrett’s attorney David Willingham has said his client has no criminal record and has deep regret for the circumstances that prompted the charges.
The charges were filed in Los Angeles because TMZ is based there.
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