Rochester man with history of filming in restrooms receives probation sentence

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester man was sentenced to two years’ probation after pleading guilty to gross misdemeanor interference with privacy.

Patrick Gaffron, 39, was arrested in April of 2023 after filming a woman in a Rochester Hy-Vee restroom. He was originally charged with felony interfering with privacy–previous conviction, as he had filmed a woman in a Winona hospital restroom in 2015.

He entered a Norgaard plea, meaning he claims he was “under the influence” at the time of the offense and does not remember it.

Olmsted County judge Christina Stevens sentenced Gaffron to the two days he had already spent at the Olmsted County ADC, and he was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and complete sex offender programming.

If Gaffron does not complete his probation without incident, he could be re-sentenced to 362 days in jail, according to Minnesota Court Records Online.

—–PREVIOUS STORY—–

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester man who was convicted of filming a woman in a Winona hospital bathroom in 2015 avoided a felony conviction of the same offense.

Patrick Gaffron, 39, was arrested in April of 2023 after filming a woman in a Rochester Hy-Vee restroom. He was charged with felony interfering with privacy–previous conviction, based on his history of interfering with privacy.

Generally, a previous conviction results in a more serious sentence if a person is convicted of the same crime later.

However, Olmsted County Court allowed Gaffron to plead guilty to gross misdemeanor interfering with privacy Wednesday, May 22, nullifying the effect of his previous conviction.

The maximum possible sentence for a gross misdemeanor is 364 days’ imprisonment or a $3,000 fine, according to Gaffron’s plea agreement.

Gaffron’s plea agreement indicates that he will likely be sentenced to two years’ probation, with the possibility of jail time only if he violates his probation.

Gaffron entered a Norgaard plea, meaning he claims he was “under the influence” at the time of the offense and does not remember it.

His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.

—–PREVIOUS STORY—–

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester man was arrested Thursday after Rochester police used surveillance video to find the suspect in an intrusion of privacy case.

According to Rochester police, at about 7:35 a.m. Sunday, April 16, a woman told employees at a business in the 500 block of Crossroads Drive SW, that she had seen a man in the women’s restroom, and thought he was recording her.

The woman confronted the man, who left the bathroom and store quickly and evaded store employees.

Rochester police allegedly used surveillance footage from the business to identify 37-year-old Patrick Gaffron, and arrested him in the 1200 block of 4th Avenue SW.

Tiffany Hawkins with the Olmsted County Attorney’s office said Gaffron was released Friday pending further investigation.

Rochester police said that the incident is still under investigation, as officers were searching Gaffron’s devices for footage.

Gaffron was previously convicted of interfering with privacy–install or use surreptitious device after pleading guilty to filming a woman in a Winona Mayo Clinic bathroom in 2015.