News 12 First at Five, August 27, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga -- He's a city employee who's been a maintenance worker at the Sheriff's Office for more than twenty years, but now 47-year-old Ricky Leon Merriweather is out on bond the day after he was charged with being a peeping tom.

Investigators say Ricky Merriweather was doing his spying in a secluded restroom on the second floor near a courtroom. On the ceiling, there were two holes that have since been patched; investigators say they were about the size of a nickel, and it gave Merriweather plenty of room to look in.

But, one observant woman foiled his plan says Richmond County investigator Blaise Dresser. "She had a really creepy feeling, she felt like somebody was watching her."

A feeling she got, after deputies say she put two and two together. "She noticed some debris on the floor, when she saw it, it looked like sheetrock.She looked up and saw two holes in the ceiling."

Investigators say Merriweather allegedly drilled the holes Monday morning. Then, he was hidden right next door with a ladder in a jury room that he had access too.

"When you think about it, a maintenance worker is one of the worst people to have to deal with, he has access to everything in the building and the initial story he gave about fixing a leak, I mean there are leaks in this building everyday."

But as it turned out, one place there wasn't a leak was in this particular restroom. A day later, Dresser says Merriweather confessed during an interview. "He admitted to putting the holes there for the purpose of people using the restroom."

Gardner, " Did he seem remorseful?"

Dresser, "He seemed scared at first, at the end, yes, I think he realized he did something stupid."

News 12 spoke with several employees who say they are still in shock. Merriweather had worked in the building for more than two decades and he was trusted. For investigators, it's a case that could have been much worse because a peeping tom can turn into a more serious sexual criminal.

But for now, they believe they've put the lid on this one.

Investigators say they have searched the building and so far they haven't found any other holes inside any other restrooms.

Ricky Merriweather is charged with one felony county of peeping tom.
So far, investigators think he could have only seen two women and again, Merriweather admits to drilling the holes, but says he stopped short of seeing anything.

As for merriweather's job, city administrator Fred Russell says once he's out of jail, the situation will be reviewed.