Morsels owner pleads no contest in secret camera case
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May 10—TRAVERSE CITY — The owner of what used to be one of the most popular coffee shops in downtown Traverse City pleaded no contest to five charges stemming from former employees finding a camera in a bathroom outlet.
Edward Witkowski stood next to his defense attorney Michael Naughton on Friday during what was supposed to be his final conference before his summer trial.
Instead, Naughton filed a plea on his client's behalf at 7:29 a.m. that morning, court records showed.
With no deal from the prosecutor's office, Witkowski admitted his guilt and pleaded no contest to: one felony count of using a computer to commit a crime, three felony counts of capturing/distributing an image of an unclothed person, and one misdemeanor count of lying to a police detective when he was questioned about the surveillance camera in his store.
These charges stem from a months-long investigation by the Traverse City Police Department which found the former U.S. Marine culpable in installing secret cameras in the Morsels Coffee Shop bathroom, and spying on women and girls during private moments.
He was arrested Nov. 10, and has been out on bond since.
Witkowski will remain out on bond until his sentencing, with all bond conditions remaining the same, Circuit Court Judge Charles Hamlyn said.
Check out tomorrow's Record-Eagle for more details.
