A man is charged with two counts of voyeurism after allegedly possessing hundreds of videos of men and women engaging in sexual activity.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, 39-year-old John W. Hayes was arrested after the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a child pornography search warrant at Hayes' home, located in the 1500 block of Lincoln Road.
Hayes' computers and hard drives were seized, and investigators said that they found hundreds of videos that showed women in various states of nudity.
Some of the videos also showed men and women engaged in sexual activity.
Investigators said that some of the videos appeared to have been recorded through windows without victims' knowledge.
Grandview Heights Police Chief Dave Wood said that the department was working hard to identify alleged victims.
“That’s why we’re being so aggressive, and we’re so hard on this, because it truly is part of our community, and it affects all of us. It violates all of us, so we have to work hard on this one,” Wood said.
Resident Meredith Trapp said that that she would be more cautious.
“I’ll be a little more careful,” Trapp said. “You perceive this to be a safe neighborhood, and you tend not to lock your doors. I imagine I’ll be thinking about it now.”
Two alleged victims have been identified and interviewed. Investigators said that they were working to identify approximately 50 other victims in Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington and Columbus.
Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott said that he thought it would be difficult to identify the alleged victims.
“What we’re doing is saying, ‘Did you know this guy? Do you live around the area?’ This is an intersection hat he was keeping record of, and we’re hoping people watch the news and say, ‘Yeah, I knew this guy,’ or maybe at some point, ‘I felt like I was being observed, but I was just paranoid,” Scott said.
Investigators said that Hayes likely would face more charges as other alleged victims are identified.
Anyone with information is asked to call the task force at 614-525-3448.
Investigators said that video appeared to be taken from the following locations:
Hollywood & 2nd – Grandview Heights
Area surrounding Trinity Church – Grandview Heights
3rd and Grandview – Grandview Heights and/or Columbus
Along Wyandotte Rd. – Upper Arlington and Grandview Heights
King Avenue – Upper Arlington and Columbus
Along Westwood Avenue – Upper Arlington
Along Northwest Blvd. – Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington or Columbus
Area of Brexton and Northwest -Columbus
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