Delaware Grad Student Charged for Hidden Bathroom Cameras

University of Delaware officials say a graduate student hid video cameras in women's restrooms throughout the campus, capturing footage for roughly two years.

The student, who has been identified as 38-year-old Javier Mendiola-Soto of Mexico has been arrested and charged with 21 counts of criminal violation of privacy.

Police confiscated video evidence in early July and determined that the videos have not been published online or shared with other individuals, according to the university.

Mendiola-Soto allegedly installed the hidden cameras in restrooms in the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, Hugh Morris Library, Memorial Hall, ISE Lab, and Willard Hall Educational building.

"It is extremely disturbing that this crime was perpetrated against our community invading the privacy of so many women on and around this campus,” University of Delaware President Patrick Harker said.

"We are taking this matter extremely seriously, cooperating with the Delaware Attorney General’s office and conducting this investigation with urgency and a deep respect for the privacy of the victims, in coordination with the Middletown Police forensics team."

The university is offering counseling services for students and employees who may have been victimized by the privacy breach.

Mendiola-Soto is currently in custody at the Howard Young Correctional Facility in Wilmington, Del. University officials say his visa has been revoked and he is ineligible for release on bail.

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