A man accused of installing a camera in a Cabool convenience store’s bathroom was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison.
Patrick Pitcher of Mansfield was sentenced by Circuit Judge John Beger.
The charges were possession of a controlled substance, felony; unlawful use of a weapon, felony; and invasion of privacy – victim less than 18 years old, a felony. Pitcher was also charged with sexual exploitation of a minor child and possession of child pornography, but those charges were dropped.
According to a police report, a Cabool officer was dispatched Jan. 3, 2023, to Casey’s General Store East in Cabool regarding a report of a camera in the vent of the women’s restroom. The officer made contact with the store manager, and a camera was subsequently found inside the vent.
Analysis of the camera’s SD card by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s division of drug and crime control revealed it contained 154 videos of people using the restroom. One of the videos reportedly showed Pitcher himself adjusting the camera angle using an application on his phone.
During the arrest process, a search of Pitcher’s vehicle was conducted and illegal prescription drugs and a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol were found, authorities said.
The Cabool Police Department investigated the discovery of the camera.
There are several civil lawsuits filed in connection with the crime.