Plea deal ends teacher's voyeurism case

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Lesser charges and no jail time wrapped up the case of an elementary school teacher caught taking pictures up young girls' skirts at an amusement park in 2007.

Christopher Lucero pleaded guilty Wednesday and then walked out of court on probation.

The plea deal comes five years after Lucero used a camera attached to his shoe to violate the privacy of several young girls.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of misdemeanor voyeurism. He originally faced five felony charges because the victims were all kids.

In 2007, security at Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque busted Lucero, a teacher at Lavaland Elementary School at the time, snapping pictures up the skirts of girls as young as 10.

On Wednesday, Lucero admitted his guilt and then told apologized to his victims.

“I am truly am sorry, and I stand in front of you today, your Honor, to take responsibility for my actions,” Lucero said. “I’m deeply sorry to all the people I inappropriately videotaped.”

That apology and admission did not mean automatic jail time. Lucero’s plea deal carried a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Instead, prosecutors and the judge agreed five years on probation was suitable in the plea deal. The defense, of course, wanted a lesser time.

However, prosecutors told the judge that Lucero’s actions deserved the whole five years.

The District Attorney’s office said it thought long and hard about the deal, adding that they took into consideration Lucero's lack of criminal record before his arrest.  He also recently completed a 14-month program for sex offenders at the state's mental hospital for criminals.

On Wednesday, he promised the courts he's a changed man.

“While there I also learned a lot about myself, how to recognize warning signs something is wrong, how to recognize high-risk situations and how to stay away from them altogether,” Lucero said.

If Lucero breaks that promise he could be locked up for the remainder of his sentence. If he does not violate his probation, all of this will be wiped from his record.

Also, a voyeurism conviction under state law does not require him to register as a sex offender.