How Private Are Hotel Rooms?

Hotel rooms might not be as private as we all think they are, and Erin Andrews learned the hard way. Andrews is a very successful ESPN reporter who was voted Playboy's 2009 sexiest sportscaster.

On September 4th 2009, Andrews was staying at the Nashville Marriott. A 47 year old insurance salesman named Michael David Barrett requested a room next to Ms. Andrews. The Mariott granted his request, setting Andrews up for a life changing experience. The two rooms were right next to each other at the end of the hall. They were in an alcove, meaning they were just about free to do whatever they wanted. According to sources, Andrew's peephole had been sawed off enough where a camera could film through it. That night, Barrett allegedly took videos as well as pictures of Andrews naked and in a towel. These pictures were then leaked on the internet. Barrett tried to sell the videos to a local celebrity website TMZ.com. Tmz refused, and there was evidence connecting the email used to send the pictures with Barrett's cell phone. There isn't any clear evidence as to why Barrett was so interested in Andrews, but it appeared as if this incident wasn't his only intended one. The Ramada Conference Center, a hotel in Milwaukee where Andrews was scheduled to stay at, had a very similarly modified peephole in Andrew's room. Barrett had also called 14 hotels where Andrews planned to stay in the future to reserve a room next to her. Federal prosecutors see him as a threat to other women having also found other naked pictures on the same email used to send the Andrew's videos around. Neither Barrett nor his lawyer will talk much about the incident, but Barrett's lawyer and old friend Rick Beuke stated that Barrett is, "as regular a guy as you'll ever meet- a great friend."

When news leaked that Barrett was been the person behind the stalking, Andrew's immediately pressed charges. Barrett was released on $4500 bond, and is required to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet. He is due at court on October 23rd for interstate stalking. These charges can face a major penalty of $250,000 and up to 5 years in jail. As of now, Barrett has lost his job as an insurance salesman and is waiting for his court hearing. There is no leaniance for interstate stalking, and Barrett is bound to face to consequences. Follow up on this case on October 23rd for the hearing.