Mexican national doctoral student and employed at the University of Delaware-Wilmington under a work visa has been charged for placing hidden cameras to video tape women and men using in-and-off campus restrooms for more than two years.
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 28, 2014
Wilmington, Delaware - The University of Delaware-Wilmington reported that Javier Mendiola-Soto, 38, of Mexico, enrolled as a doctoral student and who worked in the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI) has been charged with 21 felony counts for invasion of privacy. Mendiola-Soto allegedly placed hidden cameras in on-and-off campus restrooms between May 2012 and June 28, 2014. Bail has been denied for Mendiola-Soto and remains in jail on an immigration hold. His immigration work visa has been revoked and has been expelled from UD-Wilmington.
Mendiola-Soto was arrested on July 1 and on July 24 was eventually charged after a camera was found in a restroom by a student. The suspect was taken into custody hours after a hidden camera was found in the DBI women's restroom. Police later recovered 1,500 video files at his residence showing women and men in compromising and revealing positions using the restrooms. A laptop, computer hard drive and two cellphones were also confiscated by police.
At least 40 victims have been identified and contacted from the videos and most are women. Police are seeking to identify all of the victims in the videos. The UD-Wilmington is offering counseling for students affected in the case.
Restrooms in the following locations have been identified as places where Mendiola-Soto hid cameras and recordings were made, according to police. At the,
● Delaware Biotechnology Institute, first floor lobby restroom and first floor women's restroom in a secured area;
● Hugh Morris Library, women's restroom in first floor commons area (Bleecker St.);
● ISE Lab, first floor women's restroom in the Gore wing of building; and
● Willard Hall Education Building, first floor, unisex handicapped-accessible restroom.
● Delaware Biotechnology Institute, first floor lobby restroom and first floor women's restroom in a secured area;
● Hugh Morris Library, women's restroom in first floor commons area (Bleecker St.);
● ISE Lab, first floor women's restroom in the Gore wing of building; and
● Willard Hall Education Building, first floor, unisex handicapped-accessible restroom.
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