MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (WGHP) — A trusted bond between a North Carolina photographer and the city of Mount Airy is now shattered.
Lauren Jennings said 66-year-old William Curlee, better known as “Robbie,” was known by many.
“He was the photographer who would freely offer his services for city events and activities,” Jennings shared. “He’d capture images of everything happening downtown, from official gatherings to regular Saturdays. He enjoyed snapping pictures of people on the streets.”
Jennings said Curlee would volunteer to take pictures of her family until she noticed something odd about the way he took pictures of her.
“I’ve noticed instances where he’d place his camera bag close to where I was, often because I was wearing a dress,” Jennings stated. “I clearly remember asking him if I could ‘move [his] camera bag, move [his] phone.’ His response was always, ‘No. It’s fine right there.'”
Jennings said Curlee would say these situations were for positioning of the photos, “like a marker point.”
However, she later discovered through the Mount Airy Police Department that Curlee was secretly taking inappropriate photos under her skirt — and she wasn’t the only victim of this behavior.
“He just basically took advantage of Mayberry and the kindness of our town,” she said. “He violated countless women. Violated their bodies … They found two minors.”
Curlee was charged with multiple counts of felony and misdemeanor secret peeping, according to the Surry County Clerk of Court’s Office. He was convicted in court on June 30.
Jennings said she was in the courtroom when he apologized to his victims.
“I’ve talked to a lot of the women who were named and some who were not named. I was there that day,” Jennings said. “I can’t say enough of how proud I am of the women who spoke out in court that day and how much bravery it took … Gut-wrenching… It affected their lives.”
According to the state Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry, Curlee’s punishment includes 30 months of probation, and he is now a registered sex offender.
It’s a punishment Jennings thinks is not enough.
She added: “I think this is a pretty violating crime and I think it needs to be handled better.”
According to the state sex offender and public registry, Curlee will be registered as a sex offender for at least the next 10 years.
