New York, October 03: A man accused of making secret video tapes of ESPN broadcaster Erin Andrews undressing in hotel rooms has been arrested by the FBI.
Illinois resident Michael David Barrett, 48, was arrested overnight on charges of interstate stalking.
Mr Barnett allegedly tampered with the peepholes in the Nashville and Milwaukee hotel rooms Andrews stayed in while on assignment.
He is accused of making up to seven video tapes of her with his mobile phone before posting them on the internet, The New York Post reported.
He is also accused of trying to sell the tapes to leading celebrity website TMZ, which reportedly turned down his offer.
An FBI agent who inspected the peepholes said the eyepieces had been shortened and then appeared to have been hacksawed.
Andrews told the FBI being a voyeur victim and being exposed on the internet was a horrific experi ence.
“As a result of the incident, she did not sleep well and had constant anxiety,” according to the criminal complaint.
“In addition, Andrews was having trouble breathing and felt sick all of the time. She was concerned there might be more video and wanted to vomit just think ing about it.” According to hotel records,
The FBI said Mr Barrett specifically asked for hotel rooms next to Andrews.
It said it traced the contact phone of the person who offered the videos to TMZ back to Mr Barrett.
Mr Barrett, whose home was searched yesterday, is expected to be arraigned in Chicago federal court today.
—Agencies