A former janitor at an Ohio college is accused of secretly hiding above a women’s locker room and taking photos of female soccer players as they changed — until one of the athletes allegedly spotted him.
Police in Wilmington, Ohio, identified the suspect as Jayson Barker, who worked as a janitor at Wilmington College.
The disturbing case came to light on Sept. 22, when police say a female student noticed Barker around 10 p.m. and alerted campus safety.
According to investigators, Barker had allegedly positioned himself in the ceiling area above the women’s locker room and used the vantage point to photograph members of the women’s soccer team while they were undressing.
Campus safety contacted Wilmington police, who arrested Barker.
Authorities have not said how long he may have allegedly been doing this before he was discovered.
Barker was charged with 11 counts of voyeurism and booked into the Clinton County Jail on $22,000 bond.
Police said the investigation remains active and detectives are continuing to review evidence to determine whether more alleged victims or additional criminal charges could emerge.
Barker is scheduled to appear in Clinton County Municipal Court on Oct. 5.
The case is also unfolding as Ohio lawmakers consider tougher penalties for voyeurism.
Under current Ohio law, certain forms of voyeurism involving secretly photographing or recording an adult in a place where that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy can be charged as a second-degree misdemeanor.
That could change under House Bill 345.
The Ohio House passed the bill in June. It would increase penalties for secretly viewing or recording an adult’s private areas in a place where privacy is expected to a fifth-degree felony for a first offense, with tougher penalties for repeat offenders.
The proposal would also increase penalties in cases involving minors.
As of the latest legislative status, House Bill 345 had passed the Ohio House and been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but had not yet passed the Senate.
State Rep. Jeff LaRe, the bill’s primary sponsor, has said the goal is to make the punishment better reflect the seriousness of secretly invading another person’s privacy.
For the Wilmington College women involved, however, the investigation is still far from over.
Police are now working to determine exactly what evidence Barker allegedly collected, how long the conduct may have been happening and whether anyone else was victimized.
Sick bastard