This is
unbelievably creepy:
An Oregon judge has ruled that a 61-year-old man did nothing illegal when he crouched in the aisle of a Target store and snapped photos up a 13-year-old's skirt.
It was lewd and appalling, but not outlawed, Washington County Judge Eric Butterfield said.
Old perv Patrick Buono took pictures of the teenage girl while she shopped at a Target in suburban Portland. The girl didn't realize it was happening but a witness reported the incident and
video footage in the store confirmed it.
Washington County Deputy District Attorney Paul Maloney said the girl, now 14 and testified against Buono in court, was shocked by the incident. He said he was disappointed by the judge's decision.
"She's a great kid," Maloney said. "She's got a great family and what she did the other day was really brave and I'm proud of her. I think she's a mature, young girl and she's doing the best she can with this."
How can this be legal?
The legality of “upskirting” has been addressed in several states. Lawmakers in Wisconsin are currently working to make the act a felony, while it has already been criminalized in Massachusetts.
Last year, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals cast aside parts of a state law that banned the act, citing the First Amendment right to free speech.
Disturbing that this happens in the first place. Beyond disturbing that it's legal. But Buono's defense attorney assures us that his client is
super duper bummed about it.
"He did not deny it and he feels real bad about it too, by the way," Lawrence said.
Poor guy.