The accused video creep who allegedly made secret naked tapes of ESPN hottie Erin Andrews was hauled into a Chicago court today and told he would have to be brought to California to face charges.
Michael David Barrett, a divorced insurance company worker, faces up to five years in prison on interstate stalking charges for allegedly using a cell phone camera to capture a nude images of Andrews through peepholes at a pair of hotels.
He was ordered to go to California, and will be held until Monday, when U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys will decide if he will be taken there in custody or be released until a court date.
In the wake of the stunning arrest – which occurred Friday, when Barrett was nabbed at O’Hare International airport – Andrews released a statement praising the government for taking down her alleged stalker.
“I hope that [this] action will help the countless others who have been similarly victimized,” she said, according to the statement from her attorney. “For my part, I will make every effort to strengthen the laws on a State and Federal level to better protect victims of criminal stalking. I am also grateful to those who have expressed their concerns and good wishes for my family and me.”
Barrett lives in the Chicago suburb of Westmont, in a house which he put up for sale in August – about the time when the FBI was in the middle of its probe, and days before Andrews went on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to declare that she would catch him.
His lawyer said that he had known him for 10 years and that he had never been in trouble before.
“He’s a good man,” said attorney Rick Buek. “The line stretches around the block to support him.
“He’s very concerned about the allegations as he’s never been in trouble before. Mike’s never had a parking ticket.”
Barrett allegedly made eight videos of a naked Andrews, most of which were filmed at a Marriott hotel in Nashville, where she was covering a sporting event. He had a room next to hers and tampered with the front door peephole so he could see inside.
After making the tapes, he tried to sell them to the TMZ Web site. The site turned the offer down, and the FBI was able to trace Barrett’s alleged communications back to him.
Barrett’s father, Frank Barrett, 78, of Milwaukie, Ore., a suburb of Portland, said he hadn’t yet been able to speak to his son but said the arrest came as a shock and the situation “does not match the Mike I know.”
“He’s always been an upstanding, hardworking guy,” Frank Barrett said.
Andrews’ lawyer, Marshall Grossman, said: “Erin deserves significant credit for the progress made in solving this case. She has worked side by side with law enforcement to reconstruct the events.”
“This is clearly welcome news,” ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said of the arrest. “Our thoughts and support continue to be with Erin, who has demonstrated tremendous strength and determination.”
The FBI said yesterday that the investigation was ongoing.
With Post Wire Services.