Man guilty of secretly taking photos up woman’s skirt at gas station

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A man pleaded guilty to secretly taking photos under a woman’s skirt at a Wilmington gas station on Military Cutoff Road.

47-year-old Michael Allen Bennett was sentenced to three months in jail and probation for a five years in the Sex Offender Control Program. Judge also gave him a suspended sentence of at least 9 months in prison.

While on probation, Bennett is not allowed to possess a device with which the image of another can be captured.

On May 30, Bennett was standing in line in the convenient store behind the victim. She felt someone touch her buttocks and saw Bennett leaning down behind her holding a cell phone. She confronted Bennett who denied that he filmed up her skirt. The victim requested that the clerk retain store surveillance and she reported this crime to the police.

Detective Nathan Boozell with the Wilmington Police Department was able to identify Bennett utilizing the video surveillance. Police were able to examine Bennett’s phone which revealed the video of the victim, and multiple other videos of women who were unable to be identified.

Connie Jordan, the prosecutor, said, “Thankfully, the images Bennett captured have been seized and will be destroyed after his sentence is complete. This type of behavior poses a danger to our community and leaves victims with feelings of intrusion and violation. When officers are not able to locate and seize the recordings, as they were able to in this case, victims rightfully fear their images being circulated on the internet.”

While this crime is a Class I felony, the lowest classified felony under North Carolina law, the Judge ordered Bennett to register as a sexual offender for 30 years.