Ex-firefighter to apologize for e-mailing topless photo

A former Jackson firefighter must finish 100 hours of community service and write letters of apology for e-mailing photos of a topless female co-worker.

Joel A. Bockelman, 30, of Jackson was originally charged in May with eight misdemeanors of tampering with computer data. Seven counts were dismissed when he pleaded guilty Aug. 14 to one count. Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp presided over Thursday's hearing and set the conditions of probation.

Investigators said that on June 8, 2002, Bockelman borrowed the co-worker's laptop computer to check his e-mail at the fire station. While doing so, he found a private file containing the photo and e-mailed it to himself and several friends without the woman's knowledge or permission. He was terminated by the city for violating city and department policies later that month.

As part of his probation, Bockelman must not have contact with the victim and is to write apologies to her, the fire department and the city of Jackson, said Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

The victim expressed she was satisfied with the conditions, Swingle said.