Texas A&M Student Sentenced For Videotaping Girlfriend

Associated Press ^ | March 11, 2003

[grundle]

http://www.clickonsa.com/sh/news/texas/stories/news-texas-203273420030311-100326.html

Texas A&M Student Sentenced For Videotaping Girlfriend

Girlfriend Addresses Bice During Sentencing

Posted: 11:47 a.m. EST March 11, 2003

Updated: 11:57 a.m. EST March 11, 2003

BRYAN, Texas -- A former Texas A&M student who videotaped a sexual encounter with his girlfriend without her knowledge and showed the footage to his fraternity brothers must apologize to her in a half-page ad in the campus newspaper.

Brennan Bice, 21, was sentenced Monday to five years probation and a month in jail. He also was ordered to take out a half-page ad in the Texas A&M student newspaper, apologizing to his former girlfriend.

Bice was charged under a little-known law that makes it a felony to videotape or photograph someone without consent if the images are intended for arousal or sexual gratification.

Police said he videotaped consensual sex with his unsuspecting girlfriend, a freshman at Texas A&M, on Oct. 8 and showed the footage to as many as 15 members of his fraternity. When the woman found out, she notified authorities.

Bice was arrested and pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony charge, which is punishable by up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

The former girlfriend addressed him Monday during an emotional sentencing hearing at the Brazos County Courthouse, the Bryan-College Station Eagle reported in its Tuesday editions.

"You violated me in ways I don't think you'll ever understand," she said. She was afraid to even be on campus the past five months because she didn't know who had seen the tape, she said.

"My freshman year of college has been a relentless nightmare," she said.

Bice, who was suspended from A&M and now attends Blinn College in Brenham, was taken into custody after the hearing on Monday the first day of spring break. He will remain at the Brazos County Jail until Sunday. Then, he will serve the rest of his 30-day jail sentence on weekday nights, said his attorney, Travis Bryan III.

Under a plea agreement, Bice also must pay a $1,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service. If he does not violate the terms of the plea agreement during a five-year deferred adjudication period, the court will not convict of him of the felony. He has no prior felony convictions.

State District Judge Rick Davis, who approved the plea agreement, told Bice he was getting off with a fairly mild punishment.

"You've taken something that should be precious between a couple and made a cheap thing, and made it an ugly thing," Davis said.

The judge told Bice to think about the anger he'd feel if someone unknowingly videotaped his future wife, or mother, or sister, having sex.

In Bice's advertisement, which is set to run in next Monday's edition of the college newspaper, The Battalion, he apologizes to the woman and her family. He also says he did not know about the videotaping law.

The ad -- which cost Bice $637, Bryan said -- acknowledges wrongdoing and urges other Texas A&M students not to participate in "this type of immoral and illegal conduct."

Phelps said the unusual advertisement makes Bice's arrest a cautionary tale to other young men while serving the community's interests.

"This punishment fits the crime," he said.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press.

[homeschool mama]

**My husband is a nice guy. I am the only woman he ever dated. That is precious to me. **

My husband is a *nice* guy too, CB. I'm so very thankful to be his wife...he's an incredibly wonderful man. :o)

[xrp]

How about if you ask what I mean by women? I classify females over the age of 18 into two categories. There's women and there's ladies. You figure out the difference and don't be so swift to call me ignorant, next time.

[Husker24]

There are very few "nice" women out there these days, and I mean "nice" in the way that they are not scheeming to get something from you, but just pleasant in general. I get advice from all these "older" people that are no longer in thier 20's that give me ridiculous advice, and I just tell them "that might have worked 20 years ago, but it wont now". If you hold a door open for a woman now there is probably a good 50% chance she will slam it in your face much less thank you.

[homeschool mama]

You dare to offer a one liner putting women in one category, seemingly...then say I'm too swift to consider that statement ignorant?! Wow.

I'm all ears. Explain away...

[primeval patriot]

Bitter are ya?

[xrp]

Here in Atlanta, virtually every black woman I open the door for gives me a wonderful smile and a sincere 'thank you'. The white women pretty much ignore it...

I'm a white guy, too. Sorta funny.

[fourdeuce82d]

I went through four years of college without ever even getting so much as one kiss or one date.

Brother...with all due respedct...I don't think being a nice guy was the whole problem.

I was a pretty nice guy, and I didn't run into that. Granted, I'm talking about the early 80s, so maybe things have changed.

The guy in question was a pig. You are not a pig. However, I've had other friends who lacked...the predatory instinct. Guys who had lots of girlfriends, but never had girlfriends. Sometimes girls expect you to take that little extra step, and predate. Just a bit.

better to have loved and lost, than to have done some ugly hateful thing like that jerk did.

[xrp]

women = females that are not ladies

ladies = females with morals, manners, kindness, intelligence and healthy lifestyle

[yooper]

As you've just found out, women (and ladies) are often NOT clairvoyant. Men, on the other hand, had better be, if you know what I mean.

While I wouldn't disagree that women (by your definition) are idiots, you shouldn't be surprised that a lady took your statement literally. Ruling in favor of the plaintiff.

Tune in tomorrow for another episode of "Judge Yooper."

[homeschool mama]

I thank each and every gentleman that opens a door for me. My daughter, almost 13, is doing the same.

Oh.....I'm white.

[Plato]

I am fortunate like you. Mine is a very nice guy. Has been from day one thru now...30 years later.

And no...he was not rich. He was a low ranking Navy enlisted man when we met and married. Both of us were in our early twenties.

We were determined from the start to stay in love..no matter what the world threw at us. And yes...we have had those "bad" times, where we could have easily quit each other.

He is not just my husband and lover, he is my best friend.
And I mean BEST.

[StolarStorm]

If being a nice guy doesn't work, don't be a nice guy. Be an A**hole if that's what they want... and they mostly do regardless what a few here will say.

[LurkerNoMore!]

You two should meet.

[Husker24]

Here in Atlanta, virtually every black woman I open the door for gives me a wonderful smile and a sincere 'thank you'. The white women pretty much ignore it

Maybe I should visit the South, oddly enough come to think ive only talked to one Black woman in my entire life and that was the lady that took my blood when I donated about five years ago. Wow, I havent intentionally been avoiding them, I just never run into any.

[xrp]

My job requires me to travel once in awhile and I've come to discover the door thing is (from my experience) a more urbanized thing as most of my interaction is with the women of North Atlanta. When I'm out in the suburbs, the ladies DO say thank you.

[homeschool mama]

***women = females that are not ladies

***ladies = females with morals, manners, kindness, intelligence and healthy lifestyle

Hmmm...I've not read the "xrp's dictionary*.

So...as a middle aged *woman* who has morals, manners, kindness, intelligence and even a healthy lifestyle...I'm still a lady. :o)

[xrp]

middle aged "female" ;)

[rwfromkansas]

good question; hey brother, you aren't alone.

[rwfromkansas]

btw, they like the 'danger' all the while acting like they want some guy that understands them....a good act.