Jefferson County – Former Colorado State Trooper Eric Leon Bufkin was convicted Tuesday of a misdemeanor peeping-Tom charge after a jury found him guilty of using a special mirror to watch a woman undress in a Golden department store.
The mirror is used by law enforcement to read vehicle indentification number information on the underside of automobiles.
Bufkin, 34, set one up in a dressing room in the juniors department at Kohl’s in April 2006, authorities said.
During a two-day trial that began on Monday, Bufkin testified that he got the idea from a voyeuristic porn website, authorities said.
While trying on shirts and jeans, a female victim said she became suspicious when she looked down to see shoes in the next stall turned toward her. While disrobing, she then noticed a mirror aimed up at her from beneath the stall’s dividing wall. She cried out.
Bufkin immediately ran from the stall next to hers, and the victim and other customers followed him and wrote down his license plate information. He was in an unmarked government car.
During his testimony, Bufkin tried to defend himself by claiming he was assigned to a terrorism task force working under Homeland Security, with highest possible level of security.
Sentencing has been set for May 22. His misdemeanor carries a potential sentence of three months to a year in jail and up to a $1000 fine, authorities said.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com
