Bridgeport Man Accused Of Photographing Minor Without Her Knowledge

TRUMBULL, CT — A 55-year-old Bridgeport man was arrested on charges of voyeurism with malice and breach of peace Friday after Trumbull police said the suspect photographed an unsuspected juvenile while he sat across from her at the Westfield Trumbull mall food court.

Authorities said that Kenneth Soto, of Holley Street, is accused of using his cell phone to videotape the girl by angling himself "to view under her clothing." The girl, who had left the area by the time police arrived, has not been identified.

"While doing so, Soto was using his hand to cover the screen of his phone to make it less visible to outside eyes as he zoomed in on her," Trumbull Police Lt. Brian Weir wrote in a statement. "Soto eventually left the area, and had taken off his exterior shirt and put on a face mask to change is appearance. The witness eventually relocated Soto, and pointed him out to police who then took him into custody without incident."

Soto was first transported to Trumbull Police Headquarters where he was booked, and then was taken to an area hospital where he was detained for several days, due to medical emergencies, according to police. He remains in custody in lieu of bail of $50,000, and he is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on April 29.

Police said that Soto has an arrest history of various charges dating back to 1983, and had outstanding warrants out of New Haven on failure to appear and larceny charges, and an outstanding warrant out of Rhode Island.

He is being held on an additional $40,000 court-set bond in connection with the other Connecticut charges, and is scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court on Monday.