Patrick F Morgan: Sand Creek school teacher pleads guilty to installing hidden camera in faculty bathroom
ALBANY COUNTY, NEW YORK: A teacher has pleaded guilty to recording school staff by secretly installing a camera inside a bathroom used by both male and female members, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office said in a media release. The release also mentioned Patrick F Morgan’s alleged inappropriate act violated the privacy of 28 people and has been described as a Class E felony.
Morgan, who has years of experience in teaching, has reportedly pled guilty to two counts of second-degree unlawful surveillance in Albany County Court on November 4. As per charging papers, the 58-year-old suspect apparently hid the camera inside the bathroom of Sand Creek Middle School, located in Colonie, around February 11 of this year “with the intent to use the recordings for sexual gratification.”
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The press release stated that Morgan was originally pressed with 22 counts and his recent guilty plea to “(2) Counts of Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree” "satisfies all 22 counts Morgan initially faced.” Assistant District Attorney Ariel Fallon said, “As an employee of Sand Creek Middle School, Patrick Morgan enjoyed a high level of trust among his peers. His actions, which violated the privacy of 28 people, are an egregious betrayal of that trust. In the Special Victims Unit, we take exploitation very seriously and hope that today’s resolution provides his victims with some peace of mind and closure.”
GUILTY PLEA IN SCHOOL RESTROOM CAMERA CASE:
— Albany County District Attorney's Office (@AlbanyCountyDA) November 4, 2022
ADA Ariel Fallon said: “As an employee of Sand Creek Middle School, Patrick Morgan enjoyed a high level of trust among his peers. His actions, which violated the privacy of 28 people, are an egregious betrayal of that trust. pic.twitter.com/SKVYSX6iCT
It has been said that Morgan faces an undetermined jail time of two to six years, with the sentencing set for January 2023. “Additionally, 28 no-contact orders of protection have been issued, and he will be required to register as a sex offender,” the DA’s office added.
Earlier, after Morgan’s arrest, South Colonie Central School District Superintendent Dr David Perry had said that he was sent on administrative leave before adding, “It is important to note that at this time, we have been advised by the Colonie Police Department that there is no indication that students were impacted by the actions of Mr Morgan.”
Besides, the alleged criminal also faces separate charges at his home city in Frankfort, which is in Herkimer County in New York, for a similar crime. As per a March New York State Police official release, Morgan was arrested “for (11) counts of Unlawful Surveillance, a class ‘E’ felony, and (1) count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class ‘A’ misdemeanor.”
“Morgan was previously arrested on February 14, 2022, by the Colonie Police Department. Subsequent to the investigation, additional victims in Herkimer County have been developed. All victims have been notified, and there are no indicating factors that there are any additional victims or charges in the future. There are no implications to any schools or businesses,” the statement had noted at the time. It went on to add, “All victims surrounding this case have been identified and wish to remain anonymous. Morgan was released on his own recognizance.”