A US police arrested an 18-year-old New Jersey high schooler after a hidden camera was discovered by a woman in a family restroom at JC Penney in the Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City .
The device, which was turned over to authorities, contained disturbing footage of unsuspecting victims from various restrooms, including private residential bathrooms, New York Post reported.
According to a criminal complaint, the camera captured "approximately 35 videos of adult women who were exposed using the restroom, approximately four videos of female minors who were exposed using the restroom, and one video of a male and woman in the restroom together engaging in sexual acts."
The footage also showed a man, later identified as 18-year-old Andy Cardenas, setting up the hidden camera in the JC Penney bathroom. This evidence led to his arrest on Tuesday, and he was charged with one count of invasion of privacy .
"The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit has arrested an 18-year-old male after a recording device was found hidden in a public restroom at Newport Mall in Jersey City. Andy Cardenas, of Jersey City, is charged with one count of Invasion of Privacy in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9b(1), a crime of the third degree. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in Secaucus on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 and released on a summons pending his first court appearance, which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2024," the police said in a statement.
"This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this matter, or wishing to report a sex crime, should call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. All information will be kept confidential. The above charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty," it added.
Investigators are unsure of the duration of the scheme, as the footage lacks dates or timestamps. They are also seeking the public's assistance in identifying the locations of four unidentified bathrooms where some of the videos were filmed.
Cardenas, a resident of Jersey City, is scheduled to appear in court on October 22.
The device, which was turned over to authorities, contained disturbing footage of unsuspecting victims from various restrooms, including private residential bathrooms, New York Post reported.
According to a criminal complaint, the camera captured "approximately 35 videos of adult women who were exposed using the restroom, approximately four videos of female minors who were exposed using the restroom, and one video of a male and woman in the restroom together engaging in sexual acts."
The footage also showed a man, later identified as 18-year-old Andy Cardenas, setting up the hidden camera in the JC Penney bathroom. This evidence led to his arrest on Tuesday, and he was charged with one count of invasion of privacy .
PRESS RELEASE: Man Charged After Recording Device Found in Mall Restroom pic.twitter.com/KnWuarPLvP
— ProsecutorSuarezHCPO (@HCPOProsecutor) October 2, 2024
"The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit has arrested an 18-year-old male after a recording device was found hidden in a public restroom at Newport Mall in Jersey City. Andy Cardenas, of Jersey City, is charged with one count of Invasion of Privacy in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9b(1), a crime of the third degree. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in Secaucus on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 and released on a summons pending his first court appearance, which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2024," the police said in a statement.
The Special Victims Unit is seeking the public’s help identifying the location of the restrooms in the below photos found on the recording device. Anyone with information should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. pic.twitter.com/3TdxLRR7IQ
— ProsecutorSuarezHCPO (@HCPOProsecutor) October 2, 2024
"This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this matter, or wishing to report a sex crime, should call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. All information will be kept confidential. The above charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty," it added.
Investigators are unsure of the duration of the scheme, as the footage lacks dates or timestamps. They are also seeking the public's assistance in identifying the locations of four unidentified bathrooms where some of the videos were filmed.
Cardenas, a resident of Jersey City, is scheduled to appear in court on October 22.
