A former volunteer coach who admitted he attempted to videotape a teenage girl changing clothes in a bathroom in Palmerton Area High School was sentenced to a short prison term on Tuesday in Carbon County court and must register as a sexual offender for the next 15 years.

Robert Eckhart, 42, of Lehighton, was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve 30 days to one day less two years in the county prison. The sentence was a negotiated agreement between the district attorney's office, the victim and her family, and Eckhart.Eckhart offered remorse for what he did. He told the court, "I like to say I'm very sorry what I have done. I apologize to the victim, her family and hope she can move on with her life." He later added, "I ruined my life."Defense Attorney Matthew Rapa said examinations by an expert hired by his office and the report of the state sexual offenders assessment board indicated that Eckhart was "very low risk he would reoffend." The board ruled that Eckhart was not a violent sexual offender. If it had ruled otherwise, his registration period would have been for life. The case falls under the provisions of Megan's Law.Rapa told the court, "He violated her trust that day and is truly remorseful." Rapa said because of the incident, people look at Eckhart differently. He said before the incident Eckhart volunteered as a football coach and also assisted in the weight room. He said he realized that he had also affected the life of the victim, who was 17 at the time of the incident.The victim spoke briefly. She said she recently completed finals at college and did well and is moving on with her life. At the plea proceeding on May 28 she told the court she had recently had a nightmare in which she thought she was being stalked by a male. She said she still has problems but feels she is getting better.Nanovic asked Eckhart, "Why would you do something like this?"Eckhart responded, "I ask myself that every day."Nanovic added, "This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. This required planning." Nanovic said it was difficult to understand why it happened. He added, "It defies human behavior and it defies logic." Nanovic also said, "I do not accept this as just a one-day event."Rapa asked that the 30-day jail term be served over consecutive weekends.Assistant District Attorney Seth Miller, who prosecuted the case, objected to that request. He told the court the stipulation reached in the case took into consideration the victim's wishes. She wanted Eckhart punished but showed restraint by agreeing to a 30-day jail term. He also said Eckhart pleaded to charges of criminal use of a communication facility and invasion of privacy, while charges of photograph/film/depict on computer sex act involving a child and contact by communication with a minor-sexual abuse were dropped.Nanovic agreed that the term would be served straight 30 days.According to the arrest report filed by trooper Eric Snyder, Eckhart admitted he had set up a cellphone in the bathroom of the weight room at the high school, with the intent to obtain a video of the victim "in various stages of undress." The weight room is open for some off-school hours, including Saturday mornings, to athletes of various sports.Snyder also noted in the arrest warrant that the victim had been contacted numerous times, via text messages, by the defendant "requesting to know the exact time" she was going to arrive at the school that Saturday morning. She was also instructed, according to Snyder, to use a specific bathroom to change into her workout attire.The victim, the police report states, discovered a blue iPhone with a black case strategically placed behind the toilet seat in a unisex bathroom. The cellphone was in the video mode.The student contacted school officials on Feb. 10, 2014, who in turn reported the incident to state police.Nanovic imposed the jail term on the first count. On the invasion charge he placed Eckhart on probation for a year, consecutive to the first count.He also ordered Eckhart to obtain a sexual offenders evaluation and follow any recommendations, supply a DNA sample, must get counseling, have no contact with the victim or her family, pay court costs of about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation.He will begin the jail term at 5 p.m. on Jan. 1.