A Highlands County Sheriff’s Office detective says her quick reaction stopped a hidden-camera stunt in its tracks after she caught a man secretly recording women inside a Goodwill fitting room in Sebring on Monday afternoon. The off-duty detective confronted and detained 22-year-old Jacob Tyler Adkins until Sebring police arrived; officers later arrested him and said he faces multiple criminal charges.
The detective told investigators she was trying on clothes at about 4 p.m. when she spotted a cellphone propped over the top of her stall and immediately stepped out to confront the man, according to WTSP. Officers say Adkins was wearing underwear that had been taken from the store and that investigators later found recordings on his device. WTSP reports police detained him at the scene before booking him into the county jail.
What investigators say
Investigators say the phone contained multiple videos of different women inside changing rooms, and they booked Adkins on counts that include attempted video voyeurism, using a two-way device to facilitate a felony, and petit theft, according to Tampa Bay 28. Authorities described the case as an active investigation and warned that more charges could follow. The sheriff’s office also provided a photo to media outlets showing a detective detaining the suspect at the store.
Similar cases in Central Florida
Local stations have reported a string of similar arrests across Central Florida this month, including a Winter Garden case in which police say a man recorded multiple videos of women in a coffee-shop restroom, according to reporting by ClickOrlando. Law-enforcement officials told reporters those incidents highlight how easily small devices can be hidden in public restrooms and fitting rooms. Community members in other towns have said the recent arrests have left shoppers and diners worried about safety in otherwise ordinary places.
Florida law and penalties
Florida’s digital voyeurism statute, Section 810.145, explicitly covers recording someone who is dressing, undressing, or otherwise has a reasonable expectation of privacy in a changing or fitting room, as detailed by the Florida Senate. The law classifies a first offense by an adult as a third-degree felony, and state sentencing rules allow penalties that can include up to five years in prison. Legal guides note that there can be higher penalties for repeat offenses or recordings involving minors. Prosecutors will decide what counts to file as the investigation continues.
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office photo and the local arrest report were shared with media outlets covering the story, and authorities say the investigation remains open as they collect evidence and interview potential victims, per Tampa Bay 28. No court dates or bond information were immediately available in public records posted by area agencies.
