Former Bohemia Elementary employee Robert Mead, 44, of Yoncalla was sentenced to five days in jail after pleading no contest to three charges of attempted invasion of privacy Thursday.

Mead accepted a plea that nullified one count of Invasion of Privacy; his sentence also included 50 hours of community service, ongoing evaluation and 24 months’ suspended probation. Cottage Grove City Attorney Sean Kelly argued for the maximum penalty in the case, which could have involved a year of incarceration and hefty financial penalties. Bohemia Principal Jackie Lester joined the husband of one of the women Mead captured with his digital camera in arguing for the stiffest punishment.

“The impact far overreaches the charges,” Kelly said. “Something like this is not expected at an elementary school, especially by someone hired to work with kids, a trusted official.”

According to testimony presented in court, Mead set up a digital camera to record in video mode in a room adjacent to the Bohemia nurse’s office on Jan. 29 and Feb. 2. Defense attorney Ryan Gifford reiterated that Mead never captured the nudity of anyone with the camera or recorded any children. Mead stated that he didn’t know the room was used by female coworkers to change clothes.

Gifford stated that Mead felt “great remorse” for his actions and was in court to take responsibility for them. He asked that any fines levied by the court be payable in community service, as Mead is currently without employment after resigning his position at South Lane School District.

For his part, Mead said little, save that he was “very sorry” and wished he could take it back.