Bail Increased For Man Who Secretly Recorded Hotel Guests

Lincoln County District Attorney Jenna Wallace objected to a request for release from a Montana man who was indicted for secretly recording women in a Newport Hotel. On September 14, 2025, Newport Police were dispatched to the Holiday Inn Express in South Beach, on a report of suspicious activity involving a former guest of the hotel. Officers learned that an employee of the business had observed the male guest, later identified as Saben McKinnon, 39, of Billings, Montana, placing a small camera under multiple guests' doors.

With the assistance of Corvallis Police Department, Oregon State Department of Public Safety, and Oregon State University, McKinnon was located and arrested in Corvallis, Oregon. McKinnon was initially held in custody with a $200,000 bail security. However, after being indicted by the Lincoln County Grand Jury on two counts of Burglary in the First Degree and two counts of Invasion of Personal Privacy in the First Degree, McKinnon asked the Court to conditionally release him, or, in the alternative, reduce the bail security so that McKinnon could return to Montana while the case was pending.

After a contested release hearing, where the District Attorney's Office objected to any form of conditional release or reduction in bail, Presiding Judge Sheryl Bachart ordered that McKinnon remain in custody and increased the bail security to $500,000. McKinnon's next court date is set for Monday October 13, 2025. This case remains under investigation. Newport Police Department is working with other state and federal agencies to identify and locate additional victims. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Officer Eshleman at 541-574-3348. The Newport Police Tip Line is available at 541-574-5455, or Text-a-Tip at 541-270-1856 or tipline@newportpolice.net.