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Former SU employee charged with videotaping athletes in locker room

Ellen Abbott/WRVO

A former Syracuse television sportscaster, and Syracuse University employee stands accused of unlawfully recording video of male student-athletes in a locker room, without their knowledge. 

Roger Springfield, who's legal last name is Cahak, has pleaded not guilty to felony unlawful surveillance charges.  According to Onondaga county District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, charges are based on allegations that Springfield set up a camera in the men's locker room and taped athletes going in and out of showers.

"What he would do is place it in a position that was obviously waste-level, and use a piece of tape to disguise what in most cameras is a little red light that indicates that a camera is on and working," he said.

Fitzpatrick says authorities discounted the idea that these were accidental recordings.  Authorities say 108 football, lacrosse and soccer players were photographed, going back to 2002.  SU will notify the students of the tapes. Fitzpatrick says it doesn't appear that the tapes were shared, or that Springfield -- who was fired from his job as media director for SU's athletic department in December -- engaged in any sexual contact with the players.

The tapes were discovered when another employee noticed extended locker room footage on video from an October football game.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.