Peeping Tom Charge Filed: Shutterbug hears snap of handcuffs

Tulsa OK [Tulsaworld.com] - SAND SPRINGS -- A shutterbug from Tulsa who reportedly thought it was legal to snap a photo under an unsuspecting woman's dress will have to tell his story to a judge.

Darwin Dion Batton, 43, had his own photo taken at the Tulsa Jail, where he was booked Friday night on a felony peeping Tom complaint, authorities said.

He was released Sunday on $1,000 bond and faces a Thursday court appearance before Tulsa County Special District Judge Millie Otey.

A felony charge of using video equipment -- a cellular phone -- for an illegal purpose was filed by prosecutors Wednesday against Batton.

Sand Springs Assistant Police Chief Mike Carter said Batton was arrested at the Warehouse Market after putting his camera-equipped cell phone under a woman's dress and taking a picture.

Carter said the 60-year-old shopper was unaware of what was going on, but after she found out, she agreed to press the complaint against Batton.

Carter said police caught up with Batton in the store after another shopper saw him bend down on the right side of the woman and put his hand up under her dress.

That shopper immediately notified off-duty Officer Kyle Alexander, who was working security at the store, Carter said.



When confronted by Alexander, Batton admitted taking a picture of the woman but insisted that the action was not illegal -- that he had seen it on a local television newscast, Carter said.

Even as he was being taken to jail, Batton -- who works for DirecTV -- "continued to profess that he had done nothing illegal," Carter said.

He said Batton told officers he "was just curious."

Peeping Tom charges are normally misdemeanors, but they become felonies whenever a device is used to record an image.

This apparently is Batton's first brush with the law, Carter said.