Guilty plea in sportscaster peeping case

An Illinois insurance executive has pleaded guilty to stalking and shooting nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews.

Michael David Barrett entered his plea Tuesday during a hearing attended by Andrews and her attorney in a Los Angeles federal courtroom.

According to a plea deal filed last week, prosecutors and Barrett agreed to a 27-month prison sentence. But a judge will decide how long he serves and how much restitution he will have to pay Andrews.

U.S. District Judge Manuel Real allowed Barrett to remain free pending sentencing Feb. 22.

Barrett has admitted renting hotel rooms next to Andrews three times and shooting two videos of her while she was naked. He was accused of posting the videos online and trying to sell them to the Los Angeles-based celebrity gossip site TMZ this year.

Andrews was poised as she addressed the court. She looked down at times as Real read the allegations against Barrett, which included details of his travelling to follow Andrews. She shook her head when Real read about Barrett buying information about Andrews online, and she dabbed tears after Barrett entered his guilty plea.

Barrett stood at a podium for the nearly 10 minutes it took to read the allegations against him. He repeatedly answered, "Yes, your honour" when Real asked him to waive his rights and confirm the truthfulness of the allegations.

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have agreed not to pursue further charges against Barrett. However, he could face criminal action in other states stemming from other videos he allegedly shot of unsuspecting nude women through peepholes.