Pa. Man Bugged His Wife's Bed to Hear Her Having Sex

A Pennsylvania man, bugged by the sounds of his estranged wife's lovemaking, bugged her bed with an electronic transmitter to let him know when "the coast was clear," police say.

Wayne Comet Cripe, 66, of Raccoon Twp., Pa., lived in the same house -- but in different bedrooms -- with his estranged wife Suzanne, 49, the local Beaver County Times reports.

Suzanne and her new boyfriend shared some intimate moments in her boudoir -- with Wayne Cripe apparently listening in without their knowledge, police said.

Wayne Cripe allegedly copped to bugging his estranged wife's bed when confronted by police. "I guess she found the transmitter," he volunteered before police asked him any questions, the Times reports.

Suzanne Cripe found the electronic transmitter under her bed Feb. 20, a police report says. She immediately suspected her estranged husband.

Wayne Cripe told police he was so sick of hearing Suzanne and her boyfriend having sex, he installed the device to let him know "if the coast was clear," the report says, according to the Times.

But Wayne also told police the device's receiver -- which he kept in his truck -- didn't work, so he threw it away, the Times reports.

Wayne is charged with the interception of electronic or oral communications, a felony in Pennsylvania. Even if he's correct that the device didn't work, that may not matter, because the crime also includes "endeavors" to intercept communication.

Wayne is also charged with invasion of privacy, a misdemeanor that applies only if the invasion was "for the purpose of arousing or gratifying ... sexual desire." If Wayne can prove his intent was not sexual, he may have a defense. Expect that charge to be thrown out in a plea deal anyway.

Wayne Comet Cripe has a March 23 court date in connection with bugging his estranged wife's bed. Until then, Wayne is still living in the house; it's not clear if Suzanne is still there.

Related Resources:

• Man accused of hiding transmitter under wife's bed (Beaver County Times)
• Man Admits Bugging Bed Of Estranged Wife (The Smoking Gun)
• Pennsylvania Criminal Laws (FindLaw)
• What Is Invasion of Privacy? (FindLaw's Injured)