Updated August 21, 2026, to reflect developments in the cases discussed below.
Reports of people being secretly recorded by hidden cameras continue to surface across the United States. Small cameras can now be concealed inside ordinary-looking objects such as chargers, clocks, key fobs and other devices, making them difficult to notice before someone's privacy has already been violated.
Recording devices can certainly have legitimate uses. But secretly recording someone in a bathroom, changing room, bedroom, locker room or another place where privacy is reasonably expected can lead to serious criminal consequences and may also give victims the right to pursue civil claims. The particular laws and available remedies vary by state and depend upon the circumstances.
If you believe that you or a family member may have been secretly recorded, the legal team at Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC has extensive experience with these highly sensitive cases. You can learn more about hidden camera lawsuits or contact us confidentially at (312) 243-9922.
What to Do If You Believe You Were Secretly Recorded
Discovering that you may have been recorded without your knowledge can be deeply upsetting. Victims may experience embarrassment, anxiety, loss of trust, emotional distress and other lasting effects. There are also practical steps that can help protect evidence and preserve potential legal rights.
Preserve the Scene and Contact Law Enforcement
If you discover what appears to be a hidden camera or recording device, consider photographing it where you found it but avoid touching, removing or altering it. Law enforcement may need to examine the device itself, its placement, memory card, fingerprints or other physical and digital evidence.
If police announce an investigation involving a location that you previously visited, contact the investigating agency even if you do not know for certain that you were recorded. Investigators may be attempting to identify victims from recovered recordings, receipts, appointment records, employment schedules or other information.
Save Records That May Establish Where You Were
Preserve anything that may document your presence at the location, including receipts, appointment confirmations, hotel or rental reservations, employment schedules, photographs, text messages and emails. Write down what you remember while the events are still fresh, including dates, approximate times and the names of potential witnesses.
Speak With an Attorney Promptly
A criminal prosecution and a civil lawsuit are separate matters. Depending on the applicable state law and the facts, a person who was secretly recorded may have potential claims involving invasion of privacy, intrusion upon seclusion, intentional infliction of emotional distress or other causes of action. Claims may also exist against a business, employer, property owner or another responsible entity in appropriate circumstances.
These cases are highly fact-specific. The existence of criminal charges against the person accused of making the recordings does not automatically establish civil liability against a business or other third party. Questions involving access, notice, supervision, security procedures and the opportunity to discover or prevent the conduct may all become important. Statutes of limitation also impose deadlines that vary according to the jurisdiction and type of claim.
Recent Hidden Camera Cases Across the Country
The following cases illustrate some of the different settings in which hidden-camera investigations have arisen. The information below is based on law-enforcement statements, court proceedings, government releases and reputable news reports. Charges and allegations should not be treated as proof of guilt unless a defendant has pleaded guilty or been convicted.
Hidden Cameras in Homes and a YMCA – New Albany, Indiana
Nick Pledger of New Albany, Indiana, has been charged in connection with allegations involving secret recordings in private residences and at a YMCA. In January 2026, WLKY reported that court documents accused Pledger of placing recording devices in homes and in a family locker room at the Floyd County YMCA.
According to that report, detectives said they found hundreds of images from bathrooms and video involving adults and children in the YMCA changing and shower area. Some recording devices were allegedly disguised as USB charging blocks. The YMCA said it was cooperating with law enforcement and that authorities had inspected the facility and found no recording devices remaining there.
In February 2026, WLKY reported that Pledger pleaded not guilty to charges that included voyeurism and child exploitation. The criminal charges remain allegations unless and until proven in court.
Hidden Camera in Restaurant Restroom – Waco, Texas
Andrew Ray Vasquez, a former manager at an Andy's Frozen Custard location in Waco, Texas, was initially charged with three counts of invasive visual recording after investigators said a hidden camera had been placed in a customer restroom.
The investigation later expanded. In February 2026, KWTX reported that Vasquez had been arrested on an additional charge of possession of child pornography after investigators conducted a forensic examination of electronic devices that had been seized during the hidden-camera investigation.
Those additional allegations illustrate why hidden-camera investigations may expand well beyond the device initially discovered at a business or other location. Electronic evidence can sometimes lead investigators to additional recordings, victims or potential criminal charges.
Hidden Cameras in Portable Toilets – Central Iowa
The case involving Tyler Boyd Pavlick has progressed substantially since this article was originally published. Pavlick was investigated after cameras were discovered in portable toilets at public events in Iowa, including school cross-country meets and an arts and crafts event.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa, Pavlick pleaded guilty on May 1, 2026, to three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.
Federal prosecutors stated that miniature cameras had been placed in portable toilets at three Central Iowa events in September and October 2025. During a search of Pavlick's residence, investigators also seized electronic devices and cameras, including equipment matching cameras recovered from the portable toilets.
Secret Recordings Involving Children – South Wales, New York
A federal prosecution involving The Gow School in South Wales, New York, resulted in a lengthy prison sentence. Matthew Fisher, who had worked as an administrator at the school and lived on campus, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York, Fisher used hidden cameras between June 2022 and November 2023 to create or attempt to create videos involving at least five minor males. Investigators also found child pornography on electronic devices seized during the investigation.
On October 16, 2025, Fisher was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution. The investigation involved the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force and several local law-enforcement agencies.
Secret Recordings in a Pizzeria Restroom – Portsmouth, Rhode Island
In Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Michael Boone, a former manager at North End Pizzeria, faces criminal charges arising from allegations that employees were secretly recorded in a restaurant restroom.
Police said an employee noticed a cellphone positioned inside the restroom in a manner that appeared capable of recording the room. Investigators subsequently executed a search warrant and reported recovering a cellphone containing digital evidence. Police also said a second victim was identified and alleged that some recordings had been distributed through social media.
Boone was charged with video voyeurism, unauthorized dissemination of indecent material and disorderly conduct. According to a June 2026 report concerning his court appearance, Boone pleaded not guilty. Accordingly, the charges remain allegations to be resolved through the criminal justice process.
Hidden Cameras Can Be Found in Many Different Settings
These cases demonstrate that secret recording devices can potentially appear in many places where people expect privacy, including bathrooms, locker rooms, workplaces, hotels, medical offices, spas and other businesses. Our firm has previously written about hidden-camera investigations involving an Alsip hotel bathroom, allegations involving a Batavia chiropractor's office, and spas, salons and tanning businesses.
The person who allegedly installed or operated a camera may not always be the only person or entity whose conduct must be investigated. Depending upon the facts and applicable law, questions may arise concerning who controlled the property, who had access to the private area, whether warning signs were ignored, whether similar conduct had occurred previously, and whether reasonable security or supervisory measures were followed.
Can Hidden Camera Victims Pursue Monetary Damages?
Potential civil claims depend on the law of the state where the recording occurred and the particular facts of the case. Claims may seek compensation for emotional distress, psychological treatment, lost income, invasion of privacy and other legally recoverable harm.
When minors or sexually exploitative conduct are involved, additional legal issues may arise. Victims and families can learn more about related sexual abuse and sexual assault civil lawsuits.
A civil case can proceed separately from a criminal prosecution, and a victim does not necessarily need to wait for the criminal case to conclude before obtaining legal advice. Because filing deadlines can apply, anyone considering a claim should promptly discuss the particular facts with qualified counsel.
Speak Confidentially With an Experienced Hidden Camera Legal Team
Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC has represented victims and families in serious injury and privacy-related matters since 1990. Our legal team has helped obtain more than $40 million in verdicts and settlements for injury clients.
If you believe that you, your child or another family member may have been secretly recorded, we are available to discuss what happened, explain potential legal options and determine whether further investigation may be appropriate. Consultations are free and confidential. Call Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC at (312) 243-9922.
Sources
- WLKY – New Albany hidden-camera allegations involving homes and YMCA
- WLKY – Nick Pledger pleads not guilty
- KWTX – Waco restaurant hidden-camera investigation
- U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Iowa – Tyler Pavlick guilty plea
- U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York – Matthew Fisher sentencing
- Fall River Reporter – Michael Boone court proceedings
