Accused Garland teacher citing interest in wrestling

by Sonya Grogg

As of 4:30 p.m., Scott Palmer still had not seen the video footage shot by his client, David Ware. Ware, an assistant volleyball and softball coach at Garland Lakeview Centennial High School, has been charged with improper visual recording .

Ware is accused of improperly videotaping female wrestlers' genitalia at a Grand Prairie wrestling match. Palmer cites Ware's interest in wrestling, which stems from his Midwestern roots in Ohio, as what brought him to the match. He says Ware went as a way to research the sport.

The burden of this case will fall on proving Ware planned on using the tape for personal gratification. This could be difficult to prove. Palmer says a camera is, in a sense, staring at someone, but it's the equipment, not necessarily the person.

"It's a weird statute," Palmer said in an interview this afternoon. "It was not designed for public photography."

Palmer described the statute's intent is geared more toward hidden camera incidents, not cases like Ware's.

He also brought up the term "female genitalia," as used by Grand Prairie police.

"I'm assuming they're referring to the butt, chest and crotch areas," Palmer says. "How do you see genitals on a girl?"

Currently, Ware is on administrative leave from Lakeview.

Last year, a North Richland Hills man was arrested for photos taken of women and children at Southlake's Octoberfest.