A 25-year-old registered sex offender is back behind bars after Jefferson Parish investigators say surveillance images caught him sliding a phone under a clerk’s dress inside a store at Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie. Deputies identified the man as Justin Simmons of Montz and booked him on a count of video voyeurism. The woman shown in the footage is a 30-year-old store employee, and investigators say they uncovered photos taken of her during their probe.
According to the sheriff’s office, security-camera stills from March 26 appeared to show a man placing his phone beneath the worker’s clothing, as reported by NOLA.com. Investigators told the outlet they compared those images with other records, identified the suspect as Simmons and arrested him Monday. The office also indicated it may seek additional charges if more victims are identified.
Booked and held in Gretna
Simmons was booked into the Jefferson Parish jail and is being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The facility houses pretrial detainees for the parish and lists booking and custody details on its public roster.
Past convictions and registry
Records and prior reporting show Simmons previously faced a video voyeurism allegation in 2018 in St. Charles Parish. That charge was dismissed after he entered pretrial diversion in 2021. Court records cited by NOLA.com indicate he later pleaded guilty to video voyeurism in January 2024 and was ordered to register as a sex offender for 15 years. A one-and-a-half-year prison sentence was suspended, and he was placed on two years of active probation.
What happens next
Sheriff’s investigators say they are continuing to review evidence and are urging anyone with information to contact detectives. The agency has said it could pursue additional counts if other victims come forward. Upcoming court dates, bond decisions and booking details are expected to appear on the parish jail roster and in court filings as the district attorney decides whether to bring formal charges, according to Jefferson Parish Court Records.
Legal context
Video voyeurism is a criminal offense in Louisiana that carries mandatory sex-offender registration upon conviction. La. R.S. 14:283 defines the crime and sets out penalties, including fines and potential jail time for a first conviction, with tougher consequences for aggravated or repeat offenses.
