A hidden "spy" camera tucked inside the unisex restroom of a Juanita-area Starbucks has landed a local man in felony court, in a case that is likely to make regulars think twice before closing the bathroom door.
According to court records, the device was discovered on Oct. 3, 2025, at the Starbucks at 13325 100th Avenue NE in Kirkland, after an employee found the camera in the restroom and turned it over to police. Investigators later identified and arrested a suspect, prosecutors filed a first-degree voyeurism charge on Jan. 9, and the defendant pleaded not guilty at arraignment. A judge set bail at $50,000, and records show he has since posted bond.
Charging documents say a forensic review of the SD card allegedly recovered from the device showed video of multiple customers using the restroom and an employee cleaning it, according to KIRO7. The trial is currently set for March 31, court records indicate.
Prosecutors say the Starbucks discovery was not a one-off. Court filings quote a line attributed to the defendant that reads, in part, "By the defendant's own admission, he has been engaging in this surreptitious, voyeuristic recording of his victim's private, intimate actions since 2017," according to KOMO. Detectives also report seizing six "spy cameras" and several remote-activated devices during a search of the suspect's home.
How investigators say they tied the device to a suspect
Investigators say they did not find the alleged voyeur by luck. Police used time stamps on the hidden camera's recordings and matched them to Starbucks security video, then cross-referenced that with a credit-card transaction at the café shortly after the device was placed, according to KIRO7.
On Jan. 7, authorities executed a search warrant at a Bothell residence and recovered multiple cameras, digital storage devices and other electronics that detectives say are now part of the case evidence.
Washington's voyeurism law
Under Washington law, it is a crime to secretly photograph or film someone in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, including restrooms. First-degree voyeurism is a felony under RCW 9A.44.115 and can carry prison time and fines, per Women's Law. The statute spells out terms such as "intimate areas" and "surveillance," and courts have applied it in cases involving secret recordings.
What's next and what police are asking
Kirkland police say the investigation remains active and they are not releasing further details for now, according to KOMO. Investigators are urging anyone who discovers a recording device in a restroom or other private area to report it to local law enforcement.
Police say the probe is ongoing and that more information may come out as the case moves through the courts.
