Fairfax County Police have arrested and charged a former America Online ("AOL") executive with "unlawful filming, videotaping or photographing of another" after a teenage guest discovered a hidden camera in a changing room. 51-year-old Craig Dykstra, one of the founding employees of AOL, is accused of hiding a camera in a dressing room used by teenaged houseguests near a pool at his Centreville home. It is unclear whether Dykstra has retained a Virginia criminal lawyer to face the misdemeanor charge, but a conviction could result in his incarceration for up to a year.
Dykstra is said to have been hosting a pool party following the Westfield High School prom during the early hours of June 5th. One of the guests, a teenaged male, noticed the hidden digital video camera dangling from a pair of shorts in the changing room. According to a search warrant affidavit filed in Fairfax Circuit Court on June 7th, the teenager seized the device and handed it over to his parents, who in turn notified the police about the situation.
In an affidavit filed with Fairfax Circuit Court, Detective Nickolas Boffi states that the video content seized and viewed by police shows a "white male in his 50s" placing the camera in the unobtrusive location before adjusting it into place. Further footage captures eight teenagers of both genders in swimsuits, towels and varying states of undress. The video that police reviewed also depicts at least one teenager completely undressed. The teenage girl who was filmed nude was identified and contacted by police, Boffi states, and law enforcement officials confirmed that the girl did not give permission to be filmed.
The affidavit suggests that Dykstra may have used the hidden camera at pool parties that occurred prior to the one on June 5th. Law enforcement officials searched the former AOL executive's home on June 7th. Several items were seized according to court records, including twenty data storage units, two video storage units, seven cameras, five cellular phones and twelve computers. Fairfax police spokesperson Lucy Caldwell confirmed that Dykstra was charged with misdemeanor unlawful filming.
As technology advances, the scope of charges stemming from possibly criminal use of these devices also increases. Cases such as Dykstra's with video evidence of the alleged crimes will benefit from an experienced Virginia criminal lawyer who can protect a defendant's rights and ensure that proper procedures have been maintained throughout the investigation. Even in the presence of footage suggesting guilt, an experienced Virginia criminal lawyer can review each case and serve as a defendant's advocate within the judicial system.
Looking for a personal injury lawyer? Visit our Fairfax Accident Lawyer page.
