A dog daycare owner in Florida is facing a stack of serious charges after deputies say employees discovered a hidden camera disguised inside an electrical outlet in a bathroom at his business.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, 59-year-old Donald Hemphill, the owner of Dog Dayz Inn near New Smyrna Beach, was arrested after investigators were called to the business following the discovery of the camera.
The situation reportedly started when employees noticed something suspicious inside an electrical outlet in a bathroom. Deputies say the device turned out to be a hidden camera capable of recording people inside the private bathroom.
Investigators allege the camera had been installed months earlier.
During the investigation, deputies reportedly questioned Hemphill about the device. According to the sheriff’s office, he admitted to installing the camera approximately four to five months before it was discovered.
But investigators say the case became even more disturbing when they examined digital evidence connected to the alleged surveillance.
According to authorities, investigators found video files on Hemphill’s phone that allegedly showed multiple females in various stages of undress. Deputies also said at least one of the videos involved a child.
Authorities ultimately arrested Hemphill and charged him with multiple counts connected to alleged video voyeurism.
Action News Jax reported that Hemphill faces 10 counts of digital voyeurism and 11 counts of video voyeurism of a child.
The allegations have understandably raised questions about how long the camera may have been operating and how many people could have potentially been recorded.
The discovery reportedly came from employees who noticed the suspicious device, rather than from law enforcement initially finding it themselves.
That detail has made the case even more alarming because a bathroom inside a business is generally considered a place where customers and employees would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Deputies are continuing to investigate the evidence and determine the full scope of the alleged recordings.
The case also serves as another reminder that hidden cameras can sometimes be disguised as ordinary objects, including electrical outlets, smoke detectors, clocks and other everyday devices.
For people who use businesses with public or employee bathrooms, the case is a disturbing reminder to remain aware of anything that looks unusual or out of place.
Hemphill now faces the criminal charges as the investigation moves forward. The allegations against him have not been proven in court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty.
For now, investigators are working to determine exactly what was recorded, who may have been recorded and how long the alleged surveillance continued.
And what started with employees noticing something strange inside a bathroom outlet has now turned into a major criminal investigation involving dozens of alleged voyeurism-related offenses.
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