Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Bryce Mezney plead guilty Thursday to creepily recording seven women on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.
A military judge handed down a confinement sentence of 21 months, of which he’ll have to serve just 12 due to a pre-sentencing agreement, The Virginian-Pilot reports.
Navy prosecutor Lt. Jeffrey Marden had hoped for a three-year sentence, but settled for a reduction in rank to seaman and a dishonorable discharge.
“He’s the one who’s supposed to be setting the example here,” Marden said, according to The Virginian-Pilot. “This wasn’t some brand new seaman.”
Mezney, who signed up for the Navy in 2012, managed to successfully record six women before being caught on the seventh. The seventh woman saw him with a recording device while she was changing. He was able to gain access to the women because he worked as a hull maintenance technician, meaning he was responsible for taking care of issues in female restrooms. While he didn’t share the videos around, he did watch them.
“I was forced to stay on the ship even though I didn’t feel comfortable where I worked,” the seventh unidentified woman said. The woman further said she had great difficulty sleeping after the incident.
Mezney couldn’t help but cry when he was apologizing to the women, whom he apparently didn’t know personally when he was recording them.
“I was being very stupid to record someone who should feel safe,” he said.
Bizarrely, this is the second time in 2016 that a sailor in Hampton Roads has had to answer for charges of recording women.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ricardo Pilola plead guilty in Thursday to recording his boss and subordinates while they were using the bathroom. He is serving a two year sentence.
“I’m very, very sorry,” Pilola said. “My actions are inexcusable. I took advantage of your trust.”
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