Longmeadow man sentenced for taking naked photos of girls without consent

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Western Mass News was in the courtroom for the sentencing of a Longmeadow man who pled guilty to taking nude pictures of girls changing at a Westfield summer camp.

During a sentencing hearing for James McColley on Friday, his victims read emotional impact statements to the judge.

“He has violated my privacy, as well as created a horrible and unforgettable memory of a place where I felt happy and safe,” a victim said.

McColley, 22, from Longmeadow pled guilty to charges related to sexual surveillance and unlawful secret recording. A judge found him not guilty last week on the child pornography charges he was also facing.

It was in August 2020 when he took naked photos and videos of five different females, two of which were minors at the time, while they were changing or showering at Camp Shepard at the Westfield YMCA. He worked there as a maintenance worker at the time.

As part of her statement on Friday, one victim read aloud her experience of catching McColley in the act.

“I’m still able to vividly recall the moment where I caught James taking a video of me while I was changing out of my bathing suit in a private individual restroom,” the victim explained.

The state asked the judge to sentence McColley to two-and-a-half years in a state prison. The victims pleaded that the judge follow that recommendation.

“My hope for all of this was to get closure and feel secure in the fact that he be in jail for at least a couple of years. Knowing he could be free in the community and be able to contact me or any of the other victims terrifies me,” a victim said.

McColley also spoke to the judge and said he takes responsibility for his actions.

“Not only did I act selfishly, but I also treated the victims with no respect. At the time, I didn’t think how this would affect them or the damage it would cause them and their families,” McColley said.

The judge sentenced McColley to a one-year delayed sentence with four years of probation. In other words, he won’t serve any time behind bars as long as he follows his probation conditions.

The victims inside the courtroom were visibly upset and disappointed by the judge’s decision, while McColley’s family and friends embraced him after the hearing.

Also, because McColley was found not guilty on the child pornography charges, he will not have to register as a sex offender in this case.