Escondido police released cell phone and surveillance video catching Oceanside man, Brian Valencia, recording up women’s clothing in public places throughout the North County.
In one of the videos Valencia is at an Oceanside bookstore getting very close to his victim while recording with his cell phone. He gets so close she almost kicks and sits on him.
Surveillance video shows him walking behind a couple. He ducks down behind the girl and, in seconds, the boyfriend notices he’s up to something and steps near his phone. Valencia still doesn’t leave as the couple walks away suspiciously.
Detectives say Valencia is linked to 12 cases in the North County including some in Carlsbad, Vista, Oceanside, San Marcos and Escondido.
Valencia pleaded guilty to three cases. He must register as a sex offender for life. He’s also banned from all businesses in which he committed those crimes.
Detective Jeff Udvarhelyi with the Escondido Police Department says many of the women had no idea they were being recorded.
“It wasn't until we were able to view the video that he had on his phone we were able to identify one store that had four separate victims. None of them knew they were victims,” he said.
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Detective Udvarhelyi says this case is part of a larger and rapidly growing problem – “up-skirt” voyeurism.
“If you were to look at the internet right now and look for up-skirt type videos, you would find about 8,570,000 selections and suggestions,” he told NBC 7.
Right now, police have confirmed dozens of up-skirt voyeurism cases in the North County, but they believe there are hundreds more victims who have no idea they were recorded.
