Police Use Technology to Capture Alleged Peeping Tom

Jacksonville, FL police arrested a 44-year-old man, who allegedly hid in a bathroom stall at the Southpoint Marriott hotel and watched vulnerable women for almost half an hour, using GPS technology. According to police, the man cannot deny the fact that he was there.

The man, who is on probation for prior voyeurism convictions, wears an ankle bracelet with GPS that puts him at the hotel when a 23-year-old victim told police she saw a man in the stall next to her, run out of the restroom and drive off on May 11.

The woman followed the man and wrote down his license plate number and called the police. He was able to be quickly tracked by police from his ankle bracelet and police noted that he supposedly went outside of his approved areas.

The accused is one of nearly 200 criminals monitored in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties on house arrest. Offenders must wear a bracelet that goes on the offender’s ankle and a mobile tracking device that can be worn on a belt. If the pair gets too far apart, an alarm goes off.

Voyeurism can be defined as watching someone through a visible opening or with a recording device such as a camera in any place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Some examples of private places can include bathrooms, bedrooms, changing rooms or tanning beds. Realistically, an act of voyeurism can take place anywhere a victim can argue their right to privacy. Secretly recording a person who is nude or partially naked without their consent is a criminal act of voyeurism.

Spying on someone in a state of undress is a first degree misdemeanor in the state of Florida. If convicted of a voyeurism charge, you could face up to almost a year in jail depending on the nature of the crime committed. Watching people in public places is not a crime, however, sneaking into private areas to view others fully nude or partially dressed is.

If you have been arrested for voyeurism anywhere in Florida, contact the Florida Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers online or call 866-608-5529.