“NOBODY WILL NOTICE WHAT MY PHONE IS DOING”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PROSECUTORS SAY A RUTGERS UNIVERSITY RESEARCH DEAN SECRETLY RECORDED INTIMATE VIDEOS OF A VICTIM ON CAMPUS… AND HE IS NOW FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES AND A BAN FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
A Rutgers University dean has been arrested after allegedly recording “upskirt” videos while working at the New Jersey institution.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the charge in an official press release.
Joshua Kohut, 51, was charged with fourth-degree invasion of privacy after the videos were discovered on one of his devices.
Kohut served as the dean of research at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University.
The criminal charge followed an investigation conducted into allegations against Kohut.
On Monday, August 24, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant.
Investigators confiscated his electronic devices during the operation.
A forensic preview of the seized equipment subsequently uncovered illicit footage.
The forensic review found a video that showed another person’s “undergarment-clad intimate parts.”
According to prosecutors, the recordings were made surreptitiously.
“The defendant is alleged to have used his mobile phone to record ‘upskirt’ videos without his victim’s knowledge,” Davenport said in a statement included in the press release.
“An invasion of privacy like this is not just disturbing, it is also a criminal act,” Davenport said.
“We will prosecute accordingly,” the attorney general added.
If the educator is found guilty, the fourth-degree offense carries a possible sentence of up to 18 months in prison.
A conviction also carries a potential fine of up to $10,000, according to prosecutors.
But the institutional fallout began immediately after the arrest became public.
Following Kohut’s arrest, a spokesperson for Rutgers University called the charges “extremely disturbing,” according to CBS News.
The university spokesperson added that Kohut was placed on administrative leave in the wake of the allegations.
Rutgers officials also barred Kohut from setting foot on campus.
And the administrative ban remains in effect while the investigation continues.
On Tuesday, August 25, Kohut appeared in court for an initial proceeding.
The court released Kohut on pretrial monitoring following the appearance.
He did not remain in jail.
Yet his formal response to the allegation has not been recorded.
It is not currently clear if Kohut has retained legal counsel following his arrest.
It also remains unclear whether Kohut has entered a formal plea in the case.
Law enforcement authorities are continuing to look for additional information.
The New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety asked anyone with information regarding the case to contact investigators at 609-780-5449.
Authorities also directed potential witnesses or victims to the email address [email protected].
The request applies to anyone with relevant details or any potential alleged victims of Kohut.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.
News of the dean’s arrest quickly spread across the campus community.
Kohut’s arrest has left Rutgers staff and students in shock.
One incoming freshman told CBS News that Kohut’s arrest has created an “unsettling” environment across the campus.
Meanwhile, student Edna Kayi Martin said the situation had made her rethink how she dresses on campus.
“I was unpacking my whole wardrobe yesterday, and I’m looking at some outfits,” Martin told the outlet.
“Now that I hear about this, I’m like, is there something I should be wearing to like just keep myself safe?” Martin said.
“But it’s not something you want to think about if you’re just going to class to study,” Martin added.
Parents, teachers, and guardians interested in learning more about protecting children from exploitation can find useful tools and information at Know2Protect.
Kohut is scheduled to return to court on October 8.
They had the devices.
They had the video.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
No Comments yet!