Oklahoma County DA files charges against "Video Vigilante"

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Prosecutors in Oklahoma City filed three felony charges of pandering against Brian Bates Wednesday.<br/><br/>The so-called "Video Vigilante" of paying prostitutes so he could videotape

Wednesday, February 23rd 2005, 5:41 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Prosecutors in Oklahoma City filed three felony charges of pandering against Brian Bates Wednesday.

The so-called "Video Vigilante" of paying prostitutes so he could videotape their sexual encounters with customers.

District Attorney Wes Lane says Bates would capture acts of prostitution on camera ostensibly to disrupt the criminal practice.

But Lane says that as television shows began paying for the video, Bates began paying women to solicit customers so he could record it.

Conviction on a felony charge of pandering, or encouraging people to engage in prostitution, could carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.