Long Island Gym Teacher Takes Plea Deal In Locker Room Spying Case
WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island gym teacher has admitted to secretly video-recording girls in a middle school locker room.
According to a plea deal announced Wednesday, Thomas Sheppard, who taught at Westhampton Beach Middle School, is expected to get five years of probation, give up his teacher's license and register as a sex offender.
Sheppard, 28, had been charged with unlawful surveillance, a felony, and seven counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
"He's quite remorseful for his actions and wanted to spare the community any further trauma by pleading guilty," Sheppard's attorney, Peter Brill, told Newsday.
The Westhampton Beach school board has accepted his resignation. He had been suspended without pay since the incident came to light in February. Sheppard taught in the district for four years and had earned tenure.
Sheppard is to be sentenced on Dec. 18.
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