A Manhattan neighborhood that expected to start the year with champagne toasts is now dealing with a criminal case instead. Police say a hidden camera was discovered inside a bathroom during a New Year’s Eve party at a home on Arrowhead Drive, and the man who lived there is now facing a stack of felony charges.
Jonathan Wisniewski, 44, was arrested on Feb. 4 after investigators alleged that a concealed device inside the bathroom secretly recorded both minors and adults without their consent. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has approved felony charges, and Wisniewski is being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility while he waits for a detention hearing.
Manhattan police obtained a search warrant for the residence in the 24400 block of Arrowhead Drive on Jan. 6, days after the party, when a guest reported spotting what appeared to be a hidden camera. Officers say that the warrant led them to the device in the bathroom, and they believe there is evidence that multiple people were recorded.
Charges Approved by Will County Prosecutors
Prosecutors are not treating the case as a minor invasion of privacy. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has approved 14 felony counts, according to NBC Chicago. The indictment lists nine counts of unauthorized video recording of a child and five counts of unauthorized recording of an adult.
According to NBC Chicago, counts involving juveniles are charged as Class 3 felonies, while counts involving adults are charged as Class 4 felonies under Illinois law.
Search Warrant at White Feather Subdivision Home
Manhattan police say the case opened when a partygoer at the New Year’s Eve gathering in the White Feather subdivision spotted a suspicious device in the bathroom and notified authorities. As detailed by Patch, officers executed a search warrant at the home on Jan. 6 and located the hidden camera in the bathroom of the Arrowhead Drive residence.
Investigators believe the device captured video of multiple people using the bathroom that night. Police have described the incident as an isolated case and say there is no ongoing threat to the wider neighborhood.
What Prosecutors Allege
According to prosecutors, the camera was positioned to secretly record anyone who used the bathroom during the party, including minors. They allege that none of the guests were aware they were being filmed.
NBC Chicago reports that the nine counts tied to juveniles are charged as Class 3 felonies, and the five counts involving adults are charged as Class 4 felonies. Authorities say Wisniewski was taken into custody and processed at the Will County Adult Detention Facility following the investigation.
Legal Context and Possible Penalties
Under Illinois law, it is illegal to record someone in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy without their consent. That includes restrooms and private homes, and violations are typically charged under statute 720 ILCS 5/26-4, summarized by FindLaw.
Sentencing ranges for these felony classes can be significant. Class 3 felonies in Illinois generally carry between two and five years in prison, while Class 4 felonies are typically punishable by one to three years, according to the state’s sentencing code outlined on Justia.
What Happens Next
Wisniewski remains in custody as investigators continue to examine the seized devices and any potential video evidence. As Patch reports, prosecutors approved the 14 felony counts ahead of the formal filing process in court.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the case is still at an early stage. Wisniewski is scheduled for a detention hearing, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
