Sedgewickville man to stand trial on charges of stalking

Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp ordered a Sedgewickville, Mo., man Friday to stand trial on charges associated with using a hidden video camera to record images of a female co-worker in the restroom at the business where they worked.

Anthony Floyd Bakula, 52, was arrested in August and charged with invasion of privacy and stalking, both misdemeanors. An order of protection was also issued against Bakula, ordering him to stay away from the alleged victim.

Bakula waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case was bound over to circuit court. Kamp set Bakula's next court date for Sept. 14 at 9 a.m.

The invasion of privacy charges were upgraded to three felony counts on Aug. 12, according to Missouri casenet.

The amended complaint filed by the Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney's Office states the incidents occurred between Aug. 1 and Aug. 5.

According to a probable-cause statement, Bakula not only videotaped a fellow female employee at Fruitland Dressed Meats, 3006 Highway FF, Jackson, while she used the restroom, but also collected hair samples and photographed her without her knowledge.

A video camera was found in the women's restroom by the owner of the business, Peter Whisnant, Siebert wrote. Whisnant called the sheriff's department, and deputies found the camera and video on it that appeared to show Bakula preparing the camera for recording while it was hidden in a toilet paper package.

Bakula admitted to videotaping in the women's restroom at the business in a written statement, Siebert wrote. Bakula then gave consent to search his home, where police found more videotapes and several hairs wrapped in a napkin, along with photos of a female employee of Fruitland Dressed Meats. The hairs were the same color as the hair of the female employee in the photographs, and the videotaping appeared to also target her, Siebert wrote.

Bakula is currently incarcerated in the Cape Girardeau County Jail on $100,000 cash-only conditional bond. If convicted, he could serve up to 13 years imprisonment.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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