AUSTIN, Texas – A retired Austin Fire Department lieutenant has been indicted for invasive visual recording after allegedly filming a female firefighter in a locker room.

James William Baker, 52, is accused of hiding a video camera in the Austin Central Fire Station. On Sept. 4 a woman told police around 3 p.m. she found a camera pointed at the showers in the women’s locker room.

Baker’s attorney Larry Sauer said he “takes responsibility for what he did” and plans to work with prosecutors to “reach an outcome that’s best for both sides.”

According to the affidavit, as the victim was walking into the locker room she saw Baker walking out. Moments later she noticed blue light coming from inside a coiled cord of Christmas lights on a shelf. After investigating the victim said she found a spy camera concealed in the lights.

An estimated seven hours later the affidavit states that Baker approached her and said, “I think you know what we need to talk about.” The victim said that Baker then admitted to her that the camera belonged to him.  She said he apologized and tried to make a deal with her to keep the camera. He even offered to retire or let her keep the camera’s memory card.

The victim did not comply with Baker and instead gave the camera to police. Investigators viewed the footage and witnessed Baker placing the camera in the locker room around 3 p.m.

Baker admitted to police that he hid the camera in the locker room with the intent to later view the recordings. In the affidavit he said he knew he did not have the consent of the victim to film her and was just curious to see what she did in the locker room.

"Jim Baker has accepted responsibility for his actions, and we are trying to work through this with the District Attorney's Office to come to an amicable solution so that it benefits both sides," said Larry Sauer, Baker's attorney. 

Baker retired from the department on Sept. 6. He was arrested on Nov. 17.