FBI: 'Stalker' of ESPN reporter is from Oregon
MILWAUKIE, Ore. - A man accused of secretly taping an ESPN reporter and posting naked videos of her online has ties to the Portland metropolitan area.
The man is Michael Barrett, who once lived in Milwaukie where his parents still live. His mother and father spoke to KATU to defend their son's character. They didn't want to go on-camera, but have told the Associated Press that the allegations don't sound like the "Mike they know."
The 47 year old is accused of secretly taping nude videos of Erin Andrews. Handcuffed and in a prison jump suit, Barrett appeared before a judge in Chicago's U.S. District Court Saturday.
FBI agents arrested Barrett at Chicago's O'Hare airport Friday night. He won't appear in court again until Monday, when he'll learn if he'll be transported to California to face charges.
"We are not contesting his removal to California," said Barrett's attorney, Rick Beuke. "We will address the allegations in California."
Investigators contend that Barrett stalked Andrews in 2008 in both Nashville and Milwaukee, Wisc. They said he did it by checking into hotel rooms next to hers.
Court papers said he allegedly rigged peepholes in her hotel room doors to record her on his cell phone camera. They go on to say that when his plans to sell the videos to the celebrity gossip site TMZ failed, he posted the pics online.
Meanwhile, Andrews has said she suffered anxiety and was afraid to return to work for fear her "stalker" might still be watching. Once the tape was leaked, the paparazzi also began following Andrews. That's when she called 9-1-1.
"I'm the girl that was videotaped without her knowing, without her clothes on in the hotel," Andrews said to the 9-1-1 dispatcher. "They're looking at me through my window."
Andrews' attorney said she's greatly relieved to hear of the arrest. She is working this weekend, covering college football.
Back in Milwaukie, Frank Barrett said his son has always been an upstanding, hardworking guy. He is grappling with the fact that this is the same guy who now could face up to five years in prison if convicted.