Andrew Farago, curator of San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum, was arrested after Berkeley police say he secretly recorded guests in a bathroom during a birthday party at his South Berkeley home. The allegation stems from a May 23 gathering that included both adults and children, where investigators say a guest discovered a phone hidden in the bathroom. Police later served a search warrant at the home and seized multiple electronic devices as part of the investigation.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Berkeley officers obtained an arrest warrant accusing Farago of 20 counts of invasion of privacy tied to the use of a concealed camera. The Chronicle reports that a video on a cell phone allegedly showed Farago placing the device in the bathroom, covering it with a towel, and positioning it so it would record people using the toilet. As of the Chronicle’s reporting, prosecutors had not yet filed criminal charges in the case.
Apology and court documents
Court records cited by The Berkeley Scanner state that a woman at the party found Farago’s phone hidden in the bathroom and confronted him, and that he admitted what he had done. In a message to guests included in those documents, Farago wrote, “I hid my phone in our bathroom for the purpose of spying on our guests, my closest friends in the world,” and apologized for what he called an “inexcusable violation” of privacy. The Scanner reports that investigators recovered video footage consistent with the guest’s account of discovering the device.
His role at the Cartoon Art Museum
Farago is listed as curator on the Cartoon Art Museum’s staff pages. The museum, located at 781 Beach Street in Fisherman’s Wharf, notes that he has curated numerous exhibitions and written books on pop culture and comics. The museum’s website includes a profile outlining his curatorial work and shows. As the Chronicle reported, museum officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the police investigation.
Legal context
Berkeley police say they sought an arrest warrant for multiple counts of invasion of privacy stemming from the use of a hidden camera. California law specifically addresses secret recording in private spaces. Penal Code section 647(j) makes it unlawful to use a concealed camera to secretly record or photograph someone in a bathroom, bedroom or similar location where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. Penalties and charging decisions can vary depending on the circumstances and the particular statutes prosecutors rely on, and court proceedings or filings will determine whether formal charges are ultimately brought.
The case remains under investigation, and officials have not released additional details beyond what is contained in court records. Anyone seeking further updates will need to monitor statements from the Berkeley Police Department or new filings in Alameda County courts as the matter progresses.
