Man Who Hid Cameras In Lahey Bathroom Has Bipolar Disorder

BURLINGTON, MA -- The Tewksbury man who was arrested in March after allegedly hiding cameras in a staff bathroom at Lahey Clinic in Burlington suffers from bipolar and obsessive compulsive disorders, according to his attorney. Michael McDermott, 21, has been under house arrest since April 11 but was in Woburn District Court Wednesday for a pretrial conference.

Defense Attorney James Regan told a judge Wednesday that McDermott is receiving treatment to control "extreme mood swings." Lahey staff discovered the pen-shaped cameras in March. Although they are believed to have been there for only a short time, police suspect "multiple people" were filmed with the devices.

McDermott pleaded not guilty to three counts of photographing an unsuspecting nude person and one count of possession of a wiretapping device in April. As a condition of his house arrest, he needs to wear a tracking device and is only allowed to leave his Tewksbury home for medical treatments and probation appointments. He also must stay away from Lahey, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's office.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).