The allegations against Garth Boes center on secretly recorded footage inside his Huntersville home and his reported use of artificial intelligence to alter images. Boes faces three felony counts of secret peeping, according to WSOC-TV, which cited court documents.
The investigation started after a family member found a hard drive containing hidden videos and photos, according to court documents cited by WSOC-TV. Investigators then examined the drive as part of the probe into recordings allegedly made in Boes's home.
More Than a Terabyte of Footage
Investigators found more than a terabyte of footage once they began examining the hard drive, court documents say. Police said there was so much data that investigators were only able to focus on three victims, even though the scope of what was recovered suggests the case could be larger. Police believe there could be additional victims, though the station is not identifying the victims or their relationship to Boes, as reported by WSOC-TV.
According to court documents, Boes hid cameras to record and photograph victims undressing, using the bathroom and showering. The documents also say he confessed to hiding cameras and taking “creepshot” and upskirt photos and videos, as reported by WSOC-TV.
Admission of Using AI to “Nudify” Acquaintances
Court documents say Boes also confessed to using artificial intelligence to “nudify” people, including family friends and co-workers. The alleged AI use is distinct from the hidden-camera recordings described in the documents.
How North Carolina law addresses AI-made images
North Carolina's disclosure-of-private-images statute includes a realistic depiction created, adapted or modified through technology, including artificial intelligence, if a reasonable person would believe it depicts an identifiable individual, according to the North Carolina General Assembly. The statute's criminal offense also requires disclosure and other specified elements, so its provisions are separate from the three secret-peeping counts reported in this case.
Boes paid a $7,500 bond and was released from jail Monday night, per a report from WSOC-TV. He faces three felony counts of secret peeping, and the investigation remains active as police continue to assess how many people may have been recorded.
Guidance for People Concerned About Hidden Cameras
In the wake of the case, law enforcement officials offered guidance for residents concerned about hidden surveillance in their own homes. Officials recommend watching for a red blinking dot that can signal a camera's presence, and they suggest checking nearby devices' Wi-Fi settings for an unfamiliar camera signal. Officials also recommend buying a hidden lens detector online as an added precaution.
