By Natalie Neysa Alund
Bradenton Herald
August 21, 2008
http://www.bradenton.com/699/story/826777.html
BRADENTON - A former youth pastor accused of secretly taping Bible study students changing clothes in his Ellenton home was sentenced today to four months in jail and two years probation.
Matthew C. Porter, 31, of Ellenton, pleaded no contest to nine counts of misdemeanor voyeurism on July 7.
Circuit Judge George Brown issued the sentence at the Manatee County Judicial Center.
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| BRIAN BLANCO - Former youth pastor Matthew Porter, left, sits with his defense attorney Henry Lee Thursday at the Manatee County Judicial Center before being |
Porter resigned from Bethel Baptist Church after admitting he secretly videotaped his students ages 12 to 16, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
The recordings, which took place over a period of two years, show the juveniles undressing and changing in the home, said Assistant State Attorney Erica Arend, head of the Manatee County misdemeanor division.
Prior to Porter's plea, Brown denied a motion to suppress videotapes and other evidence from the case.
Brown ruled deputies had the right to enter Porter's home to take DVD, VHS and and video recording equipment while he was out of town last summer.
Brown made his decision after Porter's attorney, Henry Lee, filed a motion arguing authorities did not have a search warrant or Porter's permission to enter his home in the 300 block of Sally Lee Drive.
Instead, a housesitter who found the tapes gave deputies consent to enter the home while Porter was in Mexico, Arend said.
Had Brown not allowed jurors to see the tapes, prosecutors mostly likely would have been forced to drop the charges due to a lack of evidence, she said.
Porter had been set to go to trial on the charges July 14.
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