Sheriff's captain says voyeurism should be a felony after school bathroom recordings revealed

Captain Sean Malloy of the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office testified in support of House Bill 345, urging that Ohio classify voyeurism as a felony in every case to reflect the seriousness of hidden-camera invasions of privacy.

"Voyeurism is not a harmless act," Malloy told the committee. He described a Tollgate Elementary investigation in which a janitor had secretly placed a recording device and investigators found images of 18 victims on the suspect’s phone; under current law, Malloy said, that suspect could only be charged with a misdemeanor in certain circumstances.

Malloy said technology has made hidden cameras easier to conceal and that the harm to victims — humiliation, fear and anxiety — can be long-lasting. He told lawmakers that elevating voyeurism to felony status would give prosecutors and law enforcement more tools to pursue such cases and better protect victims.

The committee thanked Malloy and concluded the second hearing on the bill; there was no recorded committee vote during this session.