Accused Bathroom Peeper Charged In 2nd Case

BRANDON, FL — A 28-year-old Brandon man who was arrested on video voyeurism charges in January after the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said he tried to record one of its female detectives in a Publix restroom faces more charges. This time the man is accused of taking photos of a woman in a Michael’s craft store restroom.

The fresh video voyeurism charges against James M. McEwen stem from a Dec. 27 incident at the 2564 Brandon Blvd. W. Michael’s. Deputies say McEwen took photos of a 19-year-old woman as she was in the store’s restroom.

A warrant for McEwen’s arrest in that case was issued after his Jan. 4 run-in with the female detective, the sheriff’s office said. McEwen turned himself into authorities on the new charge Monday, Feb. 13.

The original case against McEwen developed around 2 p.m. Jan. 4 when a plain-clothes detective watched McEwen enter the bathroom at the 3863 U.S. 301 Publix store. The detective followed him inside, went into a stall and locked the door behind her, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

“While in the stall, the detective noticed the shadow of a person holding a phone, whom appeared to be video recording her from within a stall next to her,” the email said. “The detective utilized her own surveillance equipment and confirmed that McEwen was video recording her attempt to use the restroom.”

The detective then left her stall and arrested McEwen without incident.

McEwen was already under investigation as a possible suspect in another similar incident when the detective spotted him at Publix, the sheriff’s office noted.

Following his Jan. 4 arrest, detectives seized McEwen’s phone. People who believe they may be a victim of McEwen’s “illegal video recording” are being asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200.

The investigation into McEwen’s alleged actions remains open.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office