A Hot Springs man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony count of video voyeurism for recording a woman with his phone while she was getting dressed last year at a local gym.
Eric Shane Couch, 30, who lists an address of 187 Candleberry Circle, was set to stand trial Wednesday in Garland County Circuit Court on the charge, punishable by up to six years in prison, but opted to plead guilty and was sentenced to three years' probation, 30 days in jail, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $420 in court costs.
Couch will be allowed to serve his jail time on weekends, but must complete his 30-day sentence by June 15.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 26, 2017, around 6:30 a.m., Hot Springs police Officer Jason Green responded to Flex Fitness, 2303 Albert Pike Road, and met with the victim, who stated she had discovered a man, later identified as Couch, was videotaping her getting dressed minutes before Green arrived.
The victim explained the facility has two tanning rooms, separated by partitioning walls that do not go all the way up to the ceiling. She said she had exited the tanning bed and started to get dressed, when she observed a cellphone over the partition wall.
She said she was fully nude upon exiting the tanning bed, and noticed the phone while still in a semi-dressed state. The phone was promptly removed as soon as she noticed it.
The victim then left the tanning room, and asked other patrons in the gym who else was in the tanning booth. The patrons reportedly told her Couch walked into the tanning section shortly after she did. She told Green that when she attempted to confront Couch he walked past her and left.
Detective Kenny May contacted Couch by phone, advising him the call pertained to the incident at the gym. During the phone conversation, Couch admitted to holding his cellphone over the partitioning wall in the tanning room.
He told May he was able to see her back and buttocks, adding she was either nude or wearing a thong. He said he did it due to "temptation," and canceled his membership at Flex Fitness the same day.
Green reviewed the surveillance video from the gym and observed some of the events that transpired. Although he was not able to see Couch holding a cellphone over the partitioning wall, he did see the victim leaving the tanning area visibly very upset and the short conversation that took place with Couch before he left.
Couch was arrested on July 12 and released the same day on $2,500 bond. Couch had pleaded not guilty to the charge on Sept. 25, 2017, and a court order barring him from contact with the victim was issued.
Local on 02/23/2018