Some people learn from their mistakes; others keep repeating them. Michael McCarter is in the latter category.
Although he already had two previous convictions for window peeping, police say he just couldn't resist doing it a third and a fourth time. As a result, he was sentenced last week to six months in jail.
The most recent incidents happened in September and November. Fairfax County police charged McCarter, 30, of 9555 Tadok Drive, No. 102, with peeping into windows of homes in Fair Lakes and Fair Oaks.
The first incident occurred, Sept. 14, in the 12800 block of Fair Briar Lane in Fair Lakes. A man, 29, and woman, 26, reported a stranger looking into a window of their home, at 4:30 a.m. Police arrived, moments later, saw a suspect walking nearby and arrested him.
That was McCarter, and police charged him with peeping into an occupied dwelling. He was released from jail on $1,000 bond, that same day, and was scheduled for a Nov. 5 preliminary hearing in General District Court. However, the case was continued to Dec. 30 and McCarter remained free.
But before he even came to court on that charge, he got himself into hot water again. On Nov. 14, police responded to a home in the 12100 block of Polo Drive in Fair Oaks, around 4:40 a.m., after the female homeowner saw a man looking in her window. Police broadcast a lookout and found McCarter nearby. After a short foot pursuit, he was busted again.
Like before, police charged him with peeping — but held him in jail without bond. Last Tuesday, Dec. 30, he appeared in Circuit Court to answer to both charges. One was dropped, and he was found guilty of the other. Judge Michael Cassidy then sentenced McCarter to 12 months in jail, suspending six months of that time.