Man arrested in Duval County for allegedly filming woman in shower

A Jacksonville man has been arrested on a charge of video voyeurism, which is considered as a third degree felony in Florida. According to an article in the Florida Times Union, the man and two women lived in a home together. One of the women was taking a shower in the master bathroom and noticed that there was something black and hard in the loofah. She found a small black object attached to the bottom and showed it to the suspect. The man allegedly told her it was a camera. The man also, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, allegedly claimed that he was a “dirty old man”. It is not clear whether or not the man has a criminal history, but his bond was set very high at $25003.00.

Video voyeurism is not a common crime in Jacksonville, but that is the charge this man faces. In order to convict someone of this Duval County sex crime, the State Attorney’s Office has to prove that the man intentionally used or installed an imaging device to secretly view or record the women, without them knowing. They have to have been undressing or privately exposing their body at a place and time when they had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Installing the camera has to be for his amusement, entertainment, sexual arousal, gratification, profit, or to degrade another person. As you can see, there are quite a few things the prosecutor assigned to the case would have to prove.

Because the man is nineteen years of age or older, the crime of video voyeurism is considered a felony. If convicted, the man faces up to five years in prison. If the man was under nineteen, the crime would be considered a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail.

It is unclear what the relationship of the man and two women who lived in the home was, but the man did live there. It was his shower as well. At this point in the case, a prosecutor will be looking at all of he evidence to decide what charge to file, if any. That is why it is so important to consult with an experienced Jacksonville criminal attorney as soon as possible after arrest. The State Attorney’s Office has a lot of discretion in who and what they charge. You must have someone fighting for you.

If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Jacksonville Sex Crime Lawyer, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.