Bandit Says That's His Bare Bottom On Tape

OMAHA, Neb. -- The man now known around the world as the "bare-bottomed bandit" said he was drinking the night of his crime, and he didn't know cameras would catch him with his pants down.

Christopher Willever, 21, is charged with felony burglary after he allegedly broke into an Omaha Tobacco Hut. Cameras caught a man breaking through the store's window. As he did, his pants caught on something and pulled down around his ankles. Without missing a beat, the tape shows, the burglar went about robbing the store, never pausing to pull up his pants.

Willever talked with KETV NewsWatch 7's Brandi Petersen on Friday. He said he's embarrassed, and had no idea his revealing stunt would travel around the world on television and the Internet.

"Had a little too much to drink, and then I went into Tobacco Hut illegally, and took some money," Willever said.

The next day, he said, he caught the TV reports that included video of him in the store.

"I didn't think cameras would be on me, first of all. Second, I didn't think my pants were down that far. That's why I was on the floor. I thought cameras wouldn't see me, but I was obviously very wrong," Willever said.

Two major Web sites, Fark.com and TheSmokingGun.com, picked up the video and story. That helped a television reporter in Great Britain learn about the story and contact the store's owner.

"It's kind of embarrassing," Willever said. "Video of me doing something like that. It's not something better than that, but what can I do? I made a big mistake and it's sticking for a long time. I know what I did was wrong, but at the same time, all this, coming up, making light of it, so I can take it in stride, get it over with and get out of here, and start over again."

Willever has been in trouble with police before. Court records show that a year ago, he was found guilty of driving under the influence. A couple months later, he was found guilty of shoplifting.

John Greuniesen, the Tobacco Hut's owner, said that after the video was made public, several customers came forward and told him they recognized the man on the tape. One customer said he had given Willever a ride home a while back, and still remembered the address. That information helped lead to the arrest.

Willever's bond was set Friday at $10,000. He faces up to 20 years in prison.