Daniel Sanchez, 37, is behind bars after detectives say a stash of hidden bathroom recordings was traced back to him, including two clips allegedly filmed inside the Lululemon at Scottsdale Fashion Square. The case kicked off when a thumb drive surfaced in a used Jeep and quickly turned into a multi-agency probe, with Scottsdale and Gilbert officers now interviewing potential victims, seizing electronics and combing through files in Maricopa County court records.
How the case began
According to AZFamily, the investigation started on Oct. 1, 2025, when a South Carolina deputy who had bought a used Jeep found a USB drive loaded with apparent secret recordings. Investigators tracked the SUV’s prior owner to Gilbert and handed the case off to Arizona authorities after they were able to recognize at least one person in the videos. That discovery led to follow-up interviews and forensic work that eventually pointed Scottsdale detectives toward a retail restroom in Scottsdale Fashion Square.
What police say the videos show
Scottsdale detectives say they ultimately identified eight covert videos in the recovered files, including two allegedly recorded in the Lululemon restroom. One clip appears to show someone placing a camera inside a trash can and later picking it back up, according to ABC15. People contacted by police told investigators they never agreed to be filmed, and officers say at least one other video seems to have been taken at a rental property in Scottsdale. Detectives report they are still working to identify others who may be visible in the footage.
Officers arrested Sanchez outside his Gilbert home near Cooper and Warner roads and, according to court records, he now faces three felony counts of voyeurism, ABC15 reports. After taking him into custody, investigators served a search warrant at the residence and collected a cellphone and a small iPod, which authorities say are still being analyzed. Sanchez was booked into the Maricopa County jail while detectives continue to sift through digital evidence and notify possible victims.
Suspect's admissions and scope
Court documents reviewed by AZFamily indicate Sanchez admitted to investigators that he started secretly recording people when he was 16 and that the conduct escalated after he began watching pornography online. The filings allege he recorded many victims in Mexico, Arizona and California, with a focus on the Imperial Valley area, and that he deleted a number of files after his wife discovered them on a hard drive. A store manager also confirmed Sanchez had worked at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Lululemon for several years, according to the same records.
What Arizona law criminalizes
Under Arizona law, it is a crime to secretly photograph or record someone in a place where that person reasonably expects privacy, such as a bathroom or locker room, and such conduct can bring felony voyeurism charges. The statute outlining voyeurism offenses and classifications is available at A.R.S. §13‑1424. Penalties can depend on details such as whether a victim can be recognized in the material or whether the image or video is shared or distributed.
A pattern in the region
Prosecutors in the Valley have seen a steady stream of similar secret-recording cases. In one Scottsdale incident from July 2025, police uncovered more than 100 alleged covert recordings during an investigation, FOX10 Phoenix reported. Detectives say these cases often hinge on digital forensics, witness identification and coordination across jurisdictions, and they can drag on for months while officers try to find and notify every possible victim. For now, investigators say the latest probe remains active and that they are continuing to pursue additional leads.
Police are asking anyone who believes they may have been recorded without consent to contact Scottsdale or Gilbert investigators so their information can be checked against the evidence. Prosecutors will review what detectives uncover before deciding whether to bring any additional formal charges beyond the initial bookings.
