A LaPlace Starbucks worker is accused of secretly recording co-workers in an employee-only restroom, after deputies say a hidden cellphone was found under a sink on Friday and was actively recording at the time. St. John Parish authorities later arrested 30-year-old David Alfred Jr. on a video voyeurism charge and booked him on a $75,000 bond. The store is a drive-thru-only location, and the arrest follows Alfred’s 2022 guilty plea in a similar LaPlace voyeurism case.
According to a release from the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, detectives were called after a manager reported that an employee discovered the phone around noon in the staff restroom and said it belonged to Alfred. Deputies say Alfred was on the clock when the phone was found, was told to leave the store, and was later taken into custody at 8:08 p.m. Investigators seized the device and submitted it for forensic analysis while they consider whether additional charges may be warranted.
NOLA.com reports that Alfred previously pleaded guilty in 2022 to secretly recording co-workers in an employee restroom at a LaPlace casino, a case that led to a 30-month sentence and a requirement that he register as a sex offender. NOLA.com also lists the Starbucks location at 4309 U.S. Highway 51 and notes that staff discovered the phone while Alfred was on shift.
Legal consequences and the statute
Under Louisiana law, video voyeurism is a criminal offense that can bring fines and prison time and is treated as a sex offense that triggers registration requirements. State statute R.S. 14:283 lays out penalties that increase for repeat convictions or when recordings involve sexual acts or minors, and it specifically requires sex-offender registration for those convicted. The full statute text is available from the Louisiana Legislature, and the sheriff’s release notes Alfred’s prior conviction under the same law.
How these discoveries happen
Cases like the LaPlace arrest fit into a broader pattern of hidden-camera discoveries in coffee shop and public restrooms, where employees doing routine checks are often the first line of defense. Local coverage of a Kirkland, Washington Starbucks described a similar setup: a device tucked under a restroom sink that staff spotted and turned over to police, leading to a voyeurism arrest, as reported in coverage of the hidden-camera arrest.
FOX 13 Seattle also reported on that Kirkland case, which highlighted how quickly alert staff can uncover recording devices and get them into the hands of law enforcement.
In LaPlace, sheriff’s detectives say their investigation is still active and that the seized phone will be examined to determine whether more charges should be filed. The sheriff’s office has asked anyone with information to contact its tip line. Officials have not yet released a public statement from Starbucks. This story will be updated as the case moves through the system.
