Community Corner

Eagan Man Convicted of Secretly Filming Teen in Shower

A former Eagan resident was recently sentenced to 30 days in the Dakota County Jail for using a smartphone app to covertly film a 15-year-old girl in the shower.

In June of 2012, 51-year-old Robert F. Zieper, now of Eden Prairie, was arrested on one charge of interfering with the privacy of a minor, a felony with a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $5,000 fine. 

According to the original criminal complaint, the 15-year-old victim told police that incident occurred on the morning of June 24, 2012, when she was taking a shower. The girl told investigating officers that she'd just sat down to shave her legs when she noticed a "small light" coming from a tissue box cover. The tissue box had been moved from its usual location, and when she picked it up she found that a small hole had been drilled through the cover. Inside was Zieper’s cell phone, with the camera lens pointing out of the hole.

Find out what's happening in Eaganwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The phone was running an Android application that allowed live video streaming to a personal computer.

The girl said she shut down the application, and put the phone back in the box. She told her mother about the incident the next day.

Find out what's happening in Eaganwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police later found the tissue box cover. The tiny hole had been caulked and covered up with nail polish.

Zieper initially pleaded not guilty to the charge. On Feb. 4, he changed his plea. He was convicted on May 7 and sentenced to 30 days local confinement, with credit for three days already served. The judge also imposed two years of probation on Zieper. His probationary term comes with a number of conditions, including no contact with those under 18 without authorization of his probation officer, no possession of porn, no alcohol or controlled substances, and enrollment in Sex Addicts Anonymous. He will be subject to periodic polygraph tests and random searches of his computer and electronic devices.

Zieper will also be obliged to pay restitution to the victim.

If he successfully completes his probation, the court will reduce the conviction from a felony to a misdemeanor. 

Zieper's sentence was set to begin on May 27 and last through the majority of June. As of Tuesday, he was no longer in custody at the Dakota County Jail.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here