North Carolina photographer convicted for taking illegal pictures of women, minors

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 that would volunteer his time for downtown events and stuff," Jennings said. "He'd just take pictures of all the stuff downtown, whether it was a formal event or just a Saturday. He would just take pictures of people in 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 been able to find times where he has put his camera bag near where I was standing because I had a dress on," said Jennings. "I very explicitly remember asking him if I could, 'move [his] camera bag, move [his] phone.' He would say, 'No. It's fine right there.'"

Jennings said Curlee would say these situations were for positioning of the photos, "like a marker point."

But she later found out from the Mount Airy Police Department that Curlee was taking pictures up her skirt — and she wasn't the only person this was happening to.

"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.