Bollinger County man accused of stalking, invasion of privacy after videotaping fellow employee in restroom

A Sedgewickville, Mo., man was arrested by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department Thursday on suspicion that he videotaped a fellow employee while she used the restroom at the business where they worked, according to a sheriff's department news release.

Anthony Floyd Bakula, 51, is charged with invasion of privacy and stalking, both misdemeanors. An order of protection was also issued against Bakula, ordering him to stay away from the alleged victim.

According to a probable cause statement signed by Andrew Siebert, Bakula not only videotaped a fellow female employee at Fruitland American Meats, 3006 Highway FF, Jackson, while she used the restroom, but also collected hair samples and photographed her without her knowledge.

A video camera was found in the women's restroom by the owner of the business, Peter Whisnant, on Thursday, Siebert wrote. Whisnant called the sheriff's department, and deputies found the camera and video on it that appeared to show Bakula preparing the camera for recording while it was hidden in a toilet paper package.

Bakula admitted to videotaping in the women's restroom at the business in a written statement, Siebert wrote. Bakula then gave consent to search his home, where police found more videotapes and several hairs wrapped in a napkin, along with photos of a female employee of Fruitland American Meats. The hairs were the same color as the hair of the female employee in the photographs, Siebert wrote. In the probable cause statement, Siebert wrote the videotaping in the bathroom was targeting this same woman who appeared in the photographs.

Bakula will appear before Judge Peter Statler on Aug. 20.

Pertinent address:

3006 Highway FF, Jackson, Mo.