Robert Liguori sentenced for illegally recording models

A registered sex offender who secretly recorded swimsuit models getting undressed at a Southampton fashion show last summer was sentenced to 11/2 to 3 years in prison Wednesday.

Robert Liguori, 52, of Mastic Beach, pleaded guilty in March to eight counts of unlawful surveillance.

The sentence was imposed by Suffolk County Court Judge Barbara Kahn in Riverhead.

"Today is the day we get the opportunity to see if he's going to prove whether he learned his lesson," defense attorney Christopher Gioe of Central Islip said afterward.

Gioe said his client will likely serve the majority of the sentence because of his criminal history. Liguori was convicted in 2000 of federal child pornography charges and released in 2007.

Liguori had been hired as a freelance photographer to record the "Hamptons Wine & Dine" event on July 12 when he placed a live video camera in a makeshift, curtained dressing room used by female models, according to prosecutors. An intern working at the event found the camera. It wasn't clear whether Liguori's classification as a Level 2 sex offender will be upgraded. Gioe said that would be determined after the sentence is served.