Photographer pleads guilty to secretly recording bride at AL wedding venue – Albert Lea Tribune

A Pine City wedding photographer accused of secretly recording a woman in 2020 as she changed in the bridal suite of an Albert Lea wedding venue pleaded guilty Tuesday to his charge.

Mitchell Donald Ringness, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of invasion of privacy in a hotel, tanning bed or other place relating to the installation or use of a surreptitious device , a serious offense.

According to a plea filed with the court, a plea agreement calls for 180 days in prison suspended for two years, a psychosexual evaluation and compliance with recommendations, no contact with the victim, payment of restitution if requested from the victim and a Fine of $1,500 plus surcharges.

Court documents indicate a detective with the Albert Lea Police Department was contacted in April by a detective with the Cloquet Police Department regarding a privacy breach. The detective had a video recording of a bride’s dressing room taken from a low angle and showing a woman getting dressed.

Authorities later discovered the incident happened in the bridal suite at the Chapeau Shores barn in Albert Lea.

Ringness is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9.