DENTON _ The principal of Wayside Middle School in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw district was booked into the Denton County Jail Monday in a case involving a video recorded in a girls locker room last winter.
Principal Wendee Long, who is currently on administrative leave, was booked into the Denton County Jail Monday. She was indicted last Thursday on two felony charges dealing with improper photography or visual recording, according to the Denton County District Attorney's office."She was indicted last Thursday by our grand jury in a two-count indictment," said Jaime Beck, first assistant district attorney.Long faces one count of improper photography or viusal recording, Beck said. That state jail felony carries a minimum of 180 days ins a state jail or up to two years in that type of facility and fines up to $10,000.The second charge is unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications. The latter charge is commonly known as wiretapping, Beck said."That is not necessarily the fact pattern in this case," she added.The second count is second-degree felony that carries a maxium penalty of 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.Jail records state Long posted a $25,000 surety bond Monday and released from the jail.Long's daughter, 18-year-old Caydan, was no billed in the case.Long and her teenage daughter are at the center of a case involving the video, which authorities have said was recorded Feb. 7 at halftime during a girls basket-ball game between Argyle and Sanger high schools.The video was mailed to the Argyle school board in March. District officials turned it over to police, who investigated. The video contained nothing inappropriate involving the girls.Sanger Police Chief Curtis Amyx has said the intent appeared to be to try to get something on Argyle girls basketball coach Skip Townsend, not to record the players.Beck said in this age of sophisticated technology, this case can be taken as a warning."If this had happened at the mall or the town square, we wouldn't be in this situation," Beck said. "This occurred in a private girls locker room."Long was placed on administrative leave after telling her supervisors last week that she believed charges were impending in Denton County in a case involving a video recorded in a girls locker room, a district spokeswoman said Monday.Long is a former Argyle school trustee. She has been principal at Wayside Middle for about five years. Eagle Mountain-Saginaw spokeswoman Kristin Courtney said administrators will look into the matter after offices reopen Monday.Long told the district Friday that she could be facing charges. "We were aware of the situation prior to Friday," Courtney said. "She's been very upfront."In June, Denton County prosecutor Jamie Beck told the Star-Telegram that Long's daughter left the recording device in the locker room. Beck said there is evidence that Long came up with the plan and encouraged her daughter to make the video.Long could not be reached for comment.Diane Smith, (817) 390-7675Twitter: @dianestarHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
