BLOOMINGDALE (IL)
KOTA Territory [Rapid City, SD]
October 26, 2024
By Maher Kawash
A man has been arrested for allegedly recording people inside a church in a Chicago suburb.
Police said the camera was hidden inside a women’s bathroom and it was there for months.
The 24-year-old man from Atlanta was arrested for illegally recording people inside World Mission Society Church in Bloomingdale, Illinois.
The DuPage County state’s attorney identified the man as Ramon Ochoa Garcia.
He now faces charges of unauthorized video recording of a person under 18 and unauthorized video recording without consent.
Investigators said Garcia put a small pen camera into a vent to record people in the women’s bathroom at the church.
Police said this started as early as Aug. 1.
A pastor at the church later found the pen and reported it to police.
Prosecutors believe there are at least 24 victims who were recorded, including two young girls.
A judge denied the prosecutor’s request to detain Garcia before his trial, despite their argument that he was a flight risk since he allegedly lives in a van.
The church said they have no comment on this incident as police continue to investigate the matter
Police also said Garcia could face additional charges as they find more potential victims.