Texas Firefighter Charged With Taking Secret Bathroom Pics

Posted by: Curt Varone July 5, 2012 4 Comments

A Texas firefighter has been indicted on charges that he used his smartphone camera to secretly take photos in a fire station bathroom.

Last Thursday, a Walker County grand jury returned a true bill against Christopher Alexander Clark, 31, on one count of violating Texas Penal Code Section § 21.15, Improper Photography or Video Recording.  Clark was a volunteer at the New Waverly Volunteer Fire Department, Walker County ESD#2.

The device was discovered by a female member on March 4, 2012 when she went into a fire station bathroom to change. She said she heard a snapping noise and noticed a smartphone on the floor near the toilet. The phone had an application running that caused it to take continuous photos.

Besides containing photos of the female victim, the smartphone also captured images of Clark placing the phone. The charge is a felony and Clark faces 2 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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