Man begs to secretly film teenage girl in her bedroom

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story contains details of legal proceedings of a sexual nature involving a child. Due to the content of this story, discretion is advised before reading. If you know or suspect that a child under 18 is being sexually abused, please call the Texas Child Abuse Hotline at 1 (800) 252-5400.

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A man was at the Wichita County Courthouse to learn his fate after entering an open plea to child pornography charges after police say he used a hidden camera to record a teenage girl in her room.

Michael DeWayne Burnett, 54, of Lawton, Oklahoma, openly pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to promote child pornography and one count of attempted possession with intent to promote child pornography on Thursday October 17, 2024.

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Burnett, an Army veteran with no criminal history, was first arrested in December 2023 after his wife, the victim’s mother, said she found a video of the victim on his phone that was sexual in nature .

Burnett took an open plea, meaning no deal was in place when he admitted his guilt in the 78th District Court Thursday afternoon, leaving his fate in the hands of Judge Meredith Kennedy, with a sentence ranging from probation to 10 years in prison.

Burnett’s sentencing hearing began Thursday around 1:30 p.m. with the prosecution, represented by Assistant Wichita County Prosecutor Joseph Vrechek, calling Ty Collins, a detective with the Burkburnett Police Department, to the stand. witnesses.

Detective Burkburnett speaks first

Videos were admitted into evidence and played in open court showing Burnett appearing to repeatedly attempt to install a hidden camera in the bathroom. Det. Collins said he found no evidence that Burnett uploaded or distributed the video online.

During cross-examination by Burnett’s defense, Collins said Burnett cooperated with the investigation and they found no evidence of sexual activity between Burnett and the child victim.

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“He said in an interview that he put the camera in his room and I shouldn’t have,” said Det. Collins testified.

Vrechek then put an end to the prosecution’s case.

Victim’s mother testifies in favor of Burnett

Burnett’s defense called the victim’s mother to testify on Burnett’s behalf, saying her husband was trying to make sure the victim didn’t do anything that could get her in trouble and catch her if she did .

“He was trying to prove to me (the victim) that he was doing inappropriate things and that he was talking to an adult,” the victim’s mother testified.

The victim’s mother testified that her daughter, now 17, was 16 when Burnett recorded the video of her.

The victim’s mother testified that she and Burnett are currently divorcing, that he has not been allowed to be around the victim or her 10-year-old brother since the accusations came to light, and that it She was the one who initially reported the videos to the police.

Despite all of this, his testimony appeared to adamantly defend Burnett and downplay the alarming allegations presented by the prosecution regarding Burnett’s internet search history, which included pornography.

The victim’s mother testified that she thought it would be best if Burnett received probation, saying that Burnett was a great man and that alcohol played a role in the incident for which Burnett was charged.

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During cross-examination, Vrechek asked the victim’s mother about the specific types of pornography Burnett searched for on Google. She testified that pornography was just a fantasy, much like watching a horror movie.

Burnett himself speaks

Burnett himself later testified that what he had done was out of character, that he did not know why he had done it, and that he had “shamed” his family and himself. .

On the stand, Burnett admitted that he was indeed guilty of the charges against him and that he was trying to take responsibility for his actions. He testified that he was prepared to accept the consequences to come.

Burnett later testified that in addition to trying to catch the child victim doing something she was not supposed to do, he had set up the camera for “the worst possible reason” and admitted that he hoped to see the victim naked.

“I let a lot of people down,” Burnett testified. “For that, I am truly sorry.”

When asked why the Court should believe that Burnett would comply with the conditions of his community supervision, Burnett responded, “I was a trooper. I know how to follow orders.

Judge Kennedy decides Burnett’s sentence

Burnett’s attorney highlighted his record and asked for probation, while prosecutor Joe Vrechick argued he did not mislead the court and that his insidious grooming deserved the maximum sentence.

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After a break, Judge Kennedy returned to the courtroom and announced that Burnett would receive a 10-year suspended sentence and be placed on community supervision.

Judge Kennedy said the decision to sentence Burnett to probation rather than prison was due in large part to the fact that the victim’s mother appeared to deny the seriousness of the charges against Burnett.

Judge Kennedy said she was concerned that if Burnett was sentenced to prison, he could potentially receive early release and be re-entered the home while the victim’s sibling was still a child. She added a condition to Burnett’s sentence, prohibiting him from making any contact with the victim or her sister and not allowing him to live with a child under 18.

“Consider yourself lucky,” Justice Kennedy said.

Burnett will have to register as a sex offender and he will have to remain in Wichita County until prosecutors are able to confirm that Oklahoma’s sex offender and probation program is comparable to Texas’.

Judge Kennedy then warned Burnett that if he violated any conditions of his community supervision sentence, she would ensure he was placed behind bars for as long as she could.

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