A North Miami Beach police captain is facing a felony charge after authorities accused him of secretly recording a woman while she showered inside a home, prompting both a criminal investigation and an internal review by his department.
According to investigators, Capt. Jose Maya, 40, was arrested Tuesday by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office on a charge of video voyeurism by a family member or authority figure. The charge stems from allegations that he repeatedly used recording devices to capture videos of his adult stepdaughter without her knowledge while she was inside the bathroom.
Investigators say the alleged victim first became suspicious roughly a year ago after noticing a small black object protruding beneath the bathroom door while she was showering. When she opened the door, she reportedly found Maya lying on the floor outside the bathroom. Maya allegedly told her he had been adjusting a motion-activated night light, an explanation the woman later told detectives she found suspicious.
According to the arrest warrant, the unusual incidents continued over time. The woman told investigators she repeatedly noticed what appeared to be a recording device extending beneath the bathroom door whenever she showered. After sharing her concerns with her mother, the pair devised a plan to confirm their suspicions.
Authorities say the woman positioned a cellphone to secretly record the hallway outside the bathroom before taking a shower on June 28. Detectives allege the recording captured Maya lying on the floor and using a cellphone along with another device to record underneath the bathroom door while the woman was inside.
Following the incident, the victim’s mother confronted Maya and ordered him to leave the residence. Court records indicate Maya allegedly made statements during that confrontation, though portions of those comments were redacted from publicly released court documents. The mother also reportedly told investigators that at least one recovered video clearly showed the victim’s buttocks, while other recordings were blurry.
Maya was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center before appearing before a Miami-Dade judge. The court set his bond at $7,500 and ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim. He was also prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition while the case is pending.
In response to the arrest, North Miami Beach Police Chief Juan Pinillos announced that Maya has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal administrative investigation.
The department said it remains committed to transparency, accountability, and maintaining the highest professional standards while cooperating fully with investigators.
Maya’s attorney emphasized that the allegations have not been proven and noted that his client is presumed innocent unless prosecutors establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court. The defense said it intends to review the evidence and vigorously contest the charges.
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue reviewing evidence related to the alleged recordings.
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