'Absent-minded professor' or voyeur? Ex-UC physicist sentenced, must register as sex offender

Kevin Grasha
Cincinnati Enquirer
Defendant Brian T. Meadows is handcuffed and escorted from the courtroom after his sentence is read at the Hamilton County Courthouse in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. Meadows, a former University of Cincinnati professor, was sentenced after pleading guilty to voyeurism and child porn charges.

A retired University of Cincinnati physics professor who worked with international researchers studying subatomic particles was sentenced Tuesday to six months in jail on voyeurism and child porn charges.

Brian Meadows, 77, was led out of Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ethna Cooper’s courtroom in handcuffs.

In November 2016, Meadows set up a miniature spy camera in a women’s locker room at the Cincinnati Sports Club, a gym and fitness club near Hyde Park.

Meadows, who is married and has children, had been a member of the club, off and on, for many years.

Assistant Prosecutor Anne Flanagan said Tuesday that the camera was placed so it would capture the toilet and shower area. Meadows then streamed the video to his cellphone.

Defendant Brian T. Meadows stands before Judge Ethna Cooper as she reads his sentence at the Hamilton County Courthouse in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. Meadows, a former University of Cincinnati professor, was sentenced after pleading guilty to voyeurism and child porn charges.

Four women and two girls were captured “in a state of nudity,” according to court documents.

Meadows’ attorney, Edward McTigue, noted that the videos were not disseminated beyond Meadows’ cellphone. Meadows had no previous criminal record.

McTigue also said in court that Meadows has “mental health issues.” He declined to elaborate further afterwards.

During the sentencing, Meadows, who earned his doctorate in physics from Oxford University in the U.K., read from a prepared statement. As he read, a woman sitting on a courtroom bench with Meadows’ family and friends sobbed.

Defendant Brian T. Meadows is handcuffed and escorted from the courtroom after his sentence is read at the Hamilton County Courthouse in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. Meadows, a former University of Cincinnati professor, was sentenced after pleading guilty to voyeurism and child porn charges.

“I’m profoundly embarrassed and thoroughly humiliated,” Meadows said. “I especially regret that any children were involved in it. I want to apologize to those children and their parents and their families for being directly and devastatingly affected by my behavior.”

“I’m so sorry for the suffering I’ve caused them,” he added. He then apologized to his family.

Meadows retired from UC in May of 2016 and hadn’t taught classes there the previous two years. He had been conducting research using the Large Hadron Collider, a massive, underground particle accelerator in France.

Brian Meadows

Flanagan noted that family members had submitted statements essentially saying what Meadows had done was “aberrant” behavior by “an absent-minded professor.”

Flanagan rejected that, saying the evidence showed Meadows committed deliberate acts.

Cooper said it was difficult to formulate a sentence for an elderly man with no criminal history who has medical issues.

But, she said, “my concern is protecting the citizens and children of this community.”

In addition to the jail time, she ordered Meadows to complete a 2½-year treatment program for sex offenders after he is released. He also will be on probation for five years and will have to register as a sex offender.

If he violates probation, Cooper said he would face a 16-year prison sentence.