Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Video Voyeurism

Stephen A Crotty, 38, was sentenced to ten years in prison followed by five years of sex offender probation after pleading guilty to Video Voyeurism Against a Child Younger than 16 by a Person 24 Years of Age or Older and Tampering with Physical Evidence.

This case began when the mother of the victim discovered a naked photo of her child on the defendant’s cell phone that was taken using a hidden camera. The mother confronted the defendant about the photo and then contacted law enforcement. Although the defendant was aware that law enforcement was called, the defendant deleted the photo.

At the sentencing hearing, the state asked the judge to sentence the defendant to 10 years in prison followed by probation, while the defense requested a probationary sentence. The Court heard testimony from numerous state and defense witnesses. One witness for the defense was a clinically certified sex offender treatment specialist that testified that the defendant “would be an adequate candidate for sex offender probation.” Hernando County Circuit Judge Stephen Toner sided with the prosecution and sentenced the defendant to 10 years followed by 5 years sex offender probation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Lisa Yeager.