La Guardia Airport (Photo: QueensPost)
Dec. 1, 2020 By Christian Murray
A College Point man was sentenced to six months in jail today for secretly recording ‘pretty girls’ in a public bathroom at LaGuardia Airport in December 2018.
Samuel Rodriguez, 39, pleaded guilty in September to unlawful surveillance in the second degree for recording a woman who was using a restroom at the airport. He placed his phone in the unisex bathroom prior to the victim using it, according to the charges.
“In pleading guilty, this defendant admitted to preying on unwitting individuals by setting up his phone to record women using the bathroom,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement. “He turned an airport restroom into his own personal peep show. This is unconscionable and as a result of his actions the defendant is going to jail.”
Rodriguez, who worked at the airport, was sentenced to six months in jail, followed by 10 years’ post release supervision. He is also required to register as a sex offender.
According to the charges, Rodriquez set up his phone inside a paper towel dispenser in the bathroom with it angled to capture footage of women using the toilet.
Moments later, at around 9 p.m. on Dec. 19, 2018, a woman entered the bathroom stall and heard a beeping sound. She spotted a cell phone actively recording.
Rodriguez was later approached by authorities and he quickly confessed, according to the Queens District Attorney.
“I know what this is about and I’m sorry,” he reportedly told authorities when they approached him. He also provided law enforcement with his motive.
“I was trying to video pretty girls. I was going to masturbate to it at home,” he reportedly said.
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