Cell Phone Voyeur Sentenced

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man who used his cell phone to take “upskirt” photos of a 13-year-old girl was sentenced on March 8 to three years’ probation. The girl’s mother caught Daniel Reinker snapping the photos while bending down and pretending to talk on his phone at a grocery store. Witnesses say he tried deleting some of the pictures after an off-duty Franklin County sheriff’s deputy detained him. “[The mother] confronts him,” Franklin County Sheriff Chief Deputy Steve Martin told television reporters. “He tries to run away. That’s when an extra-duty officer stops him and arrested him.” The deputy took Reinker’s camera phone as evidence, but Reinker grabbed it back and tried to destroy the pictures. Sheriff’s deputies later found 20 upskirt photos of women and young girls. Reinker was originally indicted on 20 counts of voyeurism but pleaded guilty in January to one count of voyeurism and one count of tampering with evidence. As part of the plea agreement, he must be registered with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office as a sexuallyoriented offender for the next 10 years. In a related story, John Addison Grant III of Lebanon, Ore., pleaded guilty on March 10 to attempted invasion of privacy, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of two years’ probation and a $600 fine. The charge stemmed from a 2003 incident in which Grant was caught taking pictures up another 13-year-old girl’s skirt during a cheerleading competition. “This is an example where the laws of the state have not kept up with advances in technology,” John Haroldson, the district attorney who prosecuted Grant, told reporters outside the courthouse. Voyeurs in the digital age are frustrating prosecutors across the U.S. because snapping pictures up skirts and down blouses is not against the law in most states. Although 38 states have privacy laws concerning the use of cameras, only 19 specifically punish video voyeurism, and half of those do so only for “private” areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. Public areas, such as malls, usually do not fall into this category. When police in Memphis, Tenn., caught a man video taping college women as they slept, prosecutors had trouble defining the crime under the states existing laws. He was eventually charged with “observing without consent,” a misdemeanor that carries a maximum six-month sentence. Meanwhile, a Virginia man was slapped on the wrist with a 10-day sentence for disorderly conduct because prosecutors were stymied in their attempts to find an appropriate charge after he was arrested while videotaping up girls skirts at a local mall. Lawmakers in many states, including California, Hawaii and Nevada, are scrambling to rework privacy laws to account for digital technology. Robert Westcott was the first person to be convicted under New York’s new “Stephanie’s Law” when he pleaded guilty on March 7 to one felony count of unlawful surveillance. Because the New York law makes video voyeurism a felony, Westcott is expected to draw a stiffer sentence than Reinker or Grant. While prosecutors and victims have been frustrated by murky criminal statutes regarding video voyeurism, they have had more success seeking justice in civil courts. In February, two Florida women were awarded $1 million each in a lawsuit against their former employer, Ocwen Financial Corp., after a co-worker admitted to secretly videotaping them under their desks. The office voyeur, Ronald Minnis, Jr., told authorities that he had sold the videos to an adult website. Criminal charges against Minnis were dropped by the state attorney’s office after he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the civil case. But even as states move to raise penalties and victims seek financial damages against voyeurs, new technology is constantly emerging that makes it harder for law enforcement to catch offenders. In March, Sony Ericsson released its new CeBIT Rob-1, a camera that can be remotely controlled via a Bluetooth connection at a range of up to about 30 yards. Using a mobile phone, voyeurs can see exactly what the Rob-1 sees and use the handset’s joystick to tilt the camera down 20 degrees or up 70 degrees for the best angle, then snap away and store pictures to memory.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Online Child Protection Hearing to Include Federal AV Bill

A House subcommittee will hold a hearing next week on a slate of bills aimed at protecting minors online, including the SCREEN Act, which would make site-based age verification of users seeking to access adult content federal law.

Lana Wolf Returns to Immoral Productions

British star Lana Wolf stars in a new two-part scene from Immoral Productions alongside Dean Van Damme and studio honcho “Porno” Dan Leal.

Lulu Chu, Connie Perignon Star in 'Locked, Cocked & Loaded' From Brazzers

Lulu Chu and Connie Perignon star with Victor Ray in the latest release from Brazzers, titled "Locked, Cocked & Loaded."

Adriana Chechik Returns to Evil Angel With Blowbang for Jonni Darkko

Adriana Chechik has returned to Evil Angel with a blowbang from director Jonni Darkko.

FSC Announces 2025 Board of Directors Election Nominees

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has announced the nominees for its 2025 Board of Directors election.

Chanel Camryn Headlines 'Babysitters Wanted 4' From Reality Junkies

Chanel Camryn toplines the fourth volume of "Babysitters Wanted" from Mile High Media studio imprint Reality Junkies.

Romi Rain Featured on 'Adult Time Podcast'

Romi Rain is the latest guest on “The Adult Time Podcast,” hosted by studio CCO Bree Mills.

Lily LaBeau, Sarah Jessie Topline 'My Lesbian Masseuse'

Lily LaBeau and Sarah Jessie headline "My Lesbian Masseuse," from Girlfriends Films.

Millie Morgan, Ken Feels Star in Latest From New Sensations

Millie Morgan and Ken Feels star in the latest release from New Sensations.

Violet Myers Leads New Gangbang From Blacked

Violet Myers stars in the latest gangbang release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint Blacked.

Show More