WOODLAND – A former Sacramento Bee employee was sentenced to 90 days in jail Friday on charges relating to his videotaping of a youth cheerleading competition earlier this year.
Gilbert Chan, a longtime business reporter at The Bee, can apply to serve his sentence on a sheriff's work crew rather than in custody, said Yolo Superior Court Referee David Reed.
Chan, 52, of Davis, was caught by University of California, Davis, police Feb. 3 while surreptitiously videotaping a cheerleading competition on campus, according to prosecutors.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Gorman said the videotape focused on the clothed buttocks and other areas of the cheerleaders, who ranged in age from 8 to 15.
Chan was not on duty at the time of the incident and no longer works at The Bee.
Chan pleaded no contest last month to a felony charge of possession of child pornography and a misdemeanor charge of invasion of privacy.
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Chan must complete three years of probation on the misdemeanor charge. If he does so without violating the probation conditions, his plea to the felony charge can be withdrawn.
One of the conditions is that Chan not associate with cheerleaders or attend events where cheerleaders will perform.
Under the agreement, Chan will not have to register as a sex offender unless he fails to complete probation.
– Hudson Sangree
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