Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
August 10, 2023 - 2:31 PM
A former Lake Country man filmed himself having sex with multiple women using a camera disguised as a smoke detector attached to his bedroom ceiling.
Brian Earl Mills was found guilty last December on voyeurism charges after one of the women he filmed found the packaging for the dummy smoke detector and went to the police.
The RCMP then uncovered a wealth of sexually explicit video footage.
While many of the clips were very short, Mills' computer contained more than 1,800 pieces of footage, with more than half of them showing sexual intercourse.
The 38-year-old had pleaded not guilty and tried to convince the judge the camera was there purely for security reasons.
However, BC Provincial Court Judge David Ruse didn't buy it, pointing out that the camera only caught what was going on in bed.
At the Kelowna courthouse, Aug. 10, Crown prosecutors argued Mills should do six to nine months in jail.
Mills' defence lawyer argued for a period of house arrest.
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The woman who found the box to the dummy smoke detector had been in a short-term relationship with Mills sometime in 2020. He had wanted to film them in bed together and for her to send him nude photos, but she always refused.
The confiscated footage also captured another unidentified woman, who police have never been able to track down.
Mills was charged in relation to the two victims, but his camera also filmed a third woman, who he is still in a relationship with.
A statement was read to the court from the woman.
"Brian explained himself in the most heartfelt way possible," the statement read. "He is very sorry not because he is being charged but because he truly understands the impact of his actions."
The court heard how Mills' actions were deliberate and preplanned, although none of the footage had been shared online.
A psychological report to the court said Mills was at low risk of re-offend and he expressed remorse.
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The court heard how Mills had got his welding ticket after graduating high school and had worked full time since. He is currently living in Fort St. John and has no previous criminal record and no mental health issues.
"I made a very stupid decision," Mills told the court. "I feel horrible for my actions (and) I understand how the trust has been broken."
Mills asked the judge for the opportunity to keep his job.
The Judge adjourned the case and will render his sentence at a later date.
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