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A chief custodian who was responsible for a southern New Jersey school's video surveillance system resigned from his job after pictures -- some nude -- he allegedly took of students with cameras hidden in the facility were found on his school-issued cellphone.
According to the prosecutor's office in Camden County, N.J., John Martin, 41, admitted that he aimed the hidden pin-hole sized cameras to focus on specific body parts.
In a letter sent to parents Tuesday, Gloucester Catholic Junior/Senior High School Principal John Colman says prosecutors were investigating the former employee after Martin allegedly circulated photos of students.
On Wednesday, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office announced Martin's arrest. Martin was charged with third-degree invasion of privacy and released on his own recognizance as details of his alleged deeds emerged.
Tiny cameras allegedly installed around building
Prosecutors say Martin, who worked for 18 years at the school, ran the maintenance department and high school surveillance system. He admitted to installing hidden video cameras around the building to capture students and teachers -- mostly females, prosecutors said.
"Students used some of those rooms as changing areas and some of the images show nudity," the prosecutor's office said in a press release.
In a probable cause statement, investigators say that Martin admitted to capturing naked photos on a DVR and then taking still photos of the videos with his cellphone.
The quarter-inch cameras were hidden in ventilation ducts and smoke detectors and placed in eight rooms -- some where students changed -- including classrooms, the choir room, weight room, backstage area, maintenance area and football area.
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'A go-to guy'
The accusations surprised students and neighbors who say that Martin had a reputation of being a helpful, well-liked person who was always there for the students.
"He was just the go-to guy at Gloucester Catholic," said Student Body president Julia Pedersen. "If you needed anything he was always there for us."
"A nice guy, you wouldn't expect it from him," said a male student.
Martin allegedly linked the hidden cameras into the school's existing surveillance system. He is accused of possessing still photos and hours of video.
Prosecutors say a witness informed law enforcement last week of the alleged images. The investigation came to light the day before Thanksgiving and Martin resigned his position at the school the same day, according to Colman's letter.
"In the past few days we've been reviewing data on the school computers, on Mr. Martin's computers, on his cellphone, and we found a wealth of images," said prosecutor's office spokesman Jason Laughlin Wednesday night.
Prosecutors say that Martin shared the photos with at least two other people. It was not immediately clear how far back Martin was allegedly taking videos of students in the school.
More charges could be coming against Martin and the people he allegedly shared the images with even though the images weren't widely distributed.
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"We don't have any information that he put them on the Internet or attempted to sell them," Laughlin said.
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School, prosecutors begin to notify students
As part of his release, Martin is not allowed anywhere near the high school, students or staff.
Prosecutors say they have identified some of the students with exposed private parts in the videos.
"We at the school will notify the parents of any students whose photograph is identified so that they can be alerted to this situation and so that the students can be provided whatever counseling or other assistance might be necessary," Colman said in his letter.
On Wednesday, the school issued another letter that said they would "continue to work to assure the well-being of our students and ask that you keep us in your prayers."
No one answered the door at Martin's home Wednesday or Thursday.
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Leave a Comment:
People don't get much dumber than this guy. If any students were underage he is in big trouble.
This guy is a creep.
Dr. Knowalittle
By definition "child" porn = underage. He was not in physical contact, so far as the story details at least, so age of consent does not even come into play.
SICKOOOO!!!! This guy better watch his back for any father who has had a daughter that went to that school! I'd beat his fuking azz!
Dr.Knowalittle-(....If any students were underage he is in big trouble)
....Gloucester Catholic Junior/Senior High School
As the article made clear, these were Junior and High School students. So it was students in Sixth grade on up to twelfth. You can bet he is in trouble. Once more we learn how cunning and the lengths some will go to, just to fulfill their perverted appetites.
We also realize some folks can wear masks and fool people for long periods of time. This creature is such a twisted sick predator. How many of these unsuspecting children has he preyed on, will they be impacted now, and have to face him in court? Not to mention having their lives turned upside down by the realization how easy it has been to taken advantage of by an adult they thought was trust worthy.
How many parents are sitting at home sick to their stomachs wondering if their daughters or sons, as the article stated "most" were of females were exposed? I hope this creep gets more charges and spends years behind bars.
The other people who should be in trouble is the school's Computer Technician or IT person that holds a management position as they oversee what is on the computers. They should have known and the School Principal is responsible for things like that taking place as well.
Even more chilling was the speech he gave to the Saturday detention class... "I look through your letters, I look through your lockers...I listen to your conversations, you don't know that, but I do...I am the eyes and ears of this institution my friends. By the way, that clock's twenty minutes fast!"
"...helpful, well-liked person who was always there for the students."
Isn't that the problem?
Only because he is underpaid! If the school paid him more he could afford strip clubs. ;)
You act as if his low pay is a choice! The wild side is going to come out. It's called testosterone.
Again it's with the Catholics. I'm thinking this behavior may be the result of being raised in their school systems. It might be that something in the indoctrination of these young people causes them to develop warped minds. You don't read about things like this happening at a Jewish or a Muslim school, for instance. I was raised Catholic, so I'm not just shooting from the hip here. I have a little background on how their school system operates. They were fanatic about suppressing natural hormonal urges in adolescent boys. For example, I remember going to an event by car at about age 12, and they packed us in where if a girl had to sit on a boy's lap, the nuns made her sit on a phone book. Goofy stuff like that. Nutty.
The fact that he was in possession of the photos is enough. Physical contact isn't an issue.
Come on folks give the guy a break. He's just a "christian job creator". I bet you can get a lot of money for "catholic school girl/boy and teacher" photos. (sarcasm) Well so far none of the priests have been implicated.
Joe
Apparently it is... there aren't charges beyond the child porn at the moment and they might go for illegal wiretap/video... YOU can't claim rape or physical contact charges without actual physical contact.
Most of the bad happenings in the states seemed focus on Chicago and New Jersey. Santa won't be too busy in those places this year.
So in the areas described, I can't see why any of them would have someone naked. I could see someone in their undies backstage during a play, but naked??? Really??? Classrooms, weightrooms? Kind of dumb to be naked in these places...granted kind of dumb to expect you won't get caught doing this...
Agreed. If he can't avoid one felony behavior he's well on his way to becoming a predator who makes physical contact.
If someone can't understand the bridge you cross in committing a felony he's a potential predator.
Better to get him off the streets.
Released on his own recognizance? SERIOUSLY??!!?? WTF!?!?!?!
Just keep quiet like the rest of sheep pal.
Everything will be fine.
The man obviously possesses VAST amounts of self-restraint!
Don't question our court's ability to discern whether this sexual felon represents a threat to society.
If we wanted independent thinkers on our team we would have asked for them!
I feel sorry for the students. Such an invasion of privacy. That guy should be careful. Im sure many parents want to beat him to death right now. We dont know if he's guilty yet since he hasnt been convicted, so I wont say he deserves it, but if he did it, he deserves it.
DietrichtheKaiser,
Sometimes you have to change even your underwear for some school stuff, such as plays. You just have someone guard the door while you change. You have a right to privacy.
Right Goldfish, Had he been an ex-Congressman that was busted in Chicago for sexual misconduct and pardoned by Bill Clinton he'd be good to go!
Who was that?
Mel Reynolds,Goldfish. He got busted, Jesse Jackson Jr was appointed in a run-off to his vacated seat. Well you know what happened to Jackson Jr. So since Mel was pardoned by Bill "Bildo" Clinton on his way out of office he wants his old job back! Mel Reynolds was taken off the sex offender list with his aqquital and has a City of Chicago gig working with teens!? This putz is actually a Rhodes Scholar and should know better. Better than knowing how to play the system and the black community that is. I know this is getting off the subject of "pervy unfit janitor's". But there is a correlation because Mel and Jesse Jr are unfit to even take over this pervert's job. Oh well this is business as usual in Obamaland Chicago Machine Politics!
Fenderbluesjr. and others of your ilk, none of the crap you're spouting has anything to do with the price of rice or this creep who took pictures of naked kids. Stay on point. Everything is not political.
I stated that my comment was off topic,NCGrammy. However me and my ILK are looking at a bigger picture. My ILK and myself want this guy convicted,period. But we're not confident with the judicial system because of those with political clout get away scott free, Mel Reynolds is merely a case in point. And since you want to only bitch about this picture taking janitor, consider this. Congressman Reynolds actually f^^ked a 16 yr old campaign worker,was fired,indicted and went to prison. He was pardoned by a lame duck president and is now back after his old job! Everything is not political,NCGrammy, but this sure is!
Another Catholic school, and another sex starved creep. He's NO better or worse than all the priests who haven't been locked up or should be and then sentenced to life.
Whatever happened to the good old days? Do not pass "Go". Do not collect 200 dollars.
You have to admit....It's a refereshing change to have a story about the Catholic and naked girls.
@Goldfish; Sarcasm much? Had me for one tenth of a second there...
"He was a go to guy", "He was a nice guy", "He is now a pervert going to Prison with a Child Molester label"...........
C'mon IXLR8, that the statement was actually - "He was the go to guy at Glouchester Catholic" - at least adds some humor to the story.
IXLR8
Not likely... get a slap on the wrist and a "sex offender" label. Child porn yes.. never, as far as we know, touched a child..
While what this guy did is criminal lets quit making things worse than they are.
TV, pull you head out of the sand. He will go to prison as a "sex offender" 3-5 minimum with that label. Much more if he has naked minors on his cell or computer.
The inmates won't ask what he did but will say only to assume the position on his knees.
trustverify, so you would be ok with him taking nude pictures of your 11 year old daughter? Counting it as child porn? He would pray to stay in school if he did that at my kids school. I would be waiting for him. Your way off dude........
Seven2Seven
Get off your high horse 727. I never stated I condoned what he did. What I stated was in the article. Nothing more and nothing less. This, like another case on this site, should be tried in the courts.. instead the "case" is lacking enough to get a real conviction without bringing it into the public domain in an attempt to have the public DEMAND a harsher sentence than what the prosecution is likely to obtain...
ALL that is stated in the article, unless they updated it, is that he admitted to having pictures of the video images on his phone and planting the cameras. SEVERAL on here have expanded what he supposedly did to far greater crimes that as far as we know did NOT happen.
Food for thought on this.... If the prosecution had not made this PUBLIC would the victims even know about the photos... had he taken a plea? Would anyone need counseling if they did not KNOW they were photographed? This sounds like a witch hunt and some lawyers looking to make a dollar by creating victims.
Thankfully he was found out. He has admitted to the crimes. Will no longer be able to go near children again.
You are making assumptions that the case was brought out in public to get a harsher sentance. NO. It was brought out as this is a long term sexual deviant that was taking pictures of underage girls. I get so tired of people thinking this is a "slap on the wrist offense".
Get real Trust_Verify, this is a very serious offense and with pictures on his cell phone he will get major prison time. Hopefully, they will release him in your town since you seem to not care that much..........
I get so tired of people thinking this is a "slap on the wrist offense".
LIKE YOU I get TIRED of people presuming that these charges WILL result in more than a slap on the wrist. THAT is part of the problem... It SHOULD get a harsher sentence BUT it rarely does. EVERYONE wants these harsh sentences... UNTIL it is someone they know... or they get tired of PAYING to keep these people in prison.
PRIME example... There is a case in OHIO where a TEACHER (female) was found guilty of having sex with SEVERAL male students and providing them with alcohol. She even had sex on school grounds. Her TOTAL sentence WAS 5 years. She was released after ONE year. Of course there are those who will argue she should not have been sent to prison at all. Yet those same people will argue this guy should go to prison for ever... 727 tell us which is worse? pictures or actual physical contact..
Get your head out of the sand... this is the real world where threatening to kill someone will get you 20 to life but actually killing will get you 3-8 actual time. So far all we have is he had child porn he kept to himself (or thought he had) Even the PSU puke got off lightly all things considered. There are STILL people who think others at PSU are getting railroaded over what one person did, even though they SHOULD have taken action.
WORST case, if this guy has a real lawyer,..... 3 years... likely outcome.. plea to suspended sentence/time served and registered sex offender status... he will get some sort of retirement after his 18 years and move to a neighborhood that has no clue... if he moves at all.
GET ANGRY... pound your chest.. take offense... tell us how you would do this or that from behind your keyboard... the reality of the world is much different. Other than local news, if that even, we won't hear about this case here again. Unfortunately this has become rather common and the courts / prisons can't/won't do more than shuffle these filth through the system to clear their queues.
Of course the ambulance chasers are lining up at the buffet looking for a list of victims... those the lawyers can victimize, while they file suit against the school and administration. THAT is the real tragedy here.
Good spin and save from your original position and God Bless America!!!
You have to touch a child to be a child molester. He is a pedophile, nothing more, nothing less. Not saying what he didnt wasnt absolutely horrible, but lets at least stick with the truth while we condemn him.
Let's be realistic here folks. This is a high school and he likes watching young girls and female teachers in the nude. Big fuking deal. He's a peeping tom and nothing more. So ease the fuk up and not lynch him for his crime.
It seems perverts are found everywhere. How do you do a background check on voyeurism? If he has never been caught before then there is not much hope during the BI usually utilized in the employment process. Then again, he must be stupid to put it in his school issued cell phone and most criminals do get caught thru stupidity, rather than investigation processes.
Think about the difficulty performing background checks on Catholic priests. Everyone is up in arms about a guy taking pictures at a Catholic School and very few get upset when a Catholic priest assaults altar boys.
New to Newsvine, are ya?
Morning Jack , Bill,
why would a school issue phone have picture capability's anyway? every school around here is cash strapped. hell in my day if the school janitor was needed it came over the loudspeaker, or a radio, ( remember the term walkie-talkie? try it on today's youth, their normal stupid .."duh-huh?".. look gets even dumber)
Good luck finding a phone these days that doesn't have a camera.
mine dont....nor does my camera allow me to call anyone...
Let me guess - your phone is black, and has a rotary dial, right? ;)
Morning Jack, Scooter, Bill
It is a problem that most expect instant knowledge of everyone that is hired, as well as possible but not yet shown tendencies. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way just because they want it to. Kinda like burger flippers that think they should be paid like brain surgeons.
Good Afternoon Tracy, Denver Bill and Scooter
The problem with most pervs is they think they will never be caught and each time they get away with something, that gives them the belief they are invincible. I have always believed the adage of "he went to the well too often..." because he was emboldened by his previous successful ventures.
They always resigned from their jobs before they go off to prison..this way they still get their pension and health benefits.
The guy is a idiotic moron!
I do not understand this type of behavior. Pornography is legal. Even though child pornography is illegal it can still be found on the internet. There is really no need to risk arrest by installing spy cameras.
Are people that do this stupid or is there some deeper desire to invade someone's privacy? I can never tell.
You seem to have it down, they do bust people all the time at home for child porn. Word up.
IXLR8,
Thats normally when they share it, upload it, show it to people etc. It is impossible to monitor everyones computer happenings, illegal too. I dont think Waynero is saying child porn is ok, just that the guy has an outlet if he is a pedophile. Obviously he wanted to invade these kids privacy, and probably got off on that alone.
Why tell the students? Who would think its a good idea to tell them? Let them be.
Because they have a right to know. As it is now, anyone who went to the school is wondering if they're in the pictures, including my daughter. We haven't been informed yet, but I understand there are hundreds of pics to identify.
I don't know who said he was a nice guy. My daughter thought he was creepy even before this news.
Im sorry for your daughter and everyone else there jrsygrl.
Dude, if your going to do that don't have images on the SCHOOL cellphone.
so you put yours where exactly?
I don't see a problem here. His job was to set up cameras. He set up cameras. It's not his fault people decided to undress in front of them.
now he can add registered pedophile to his resume...
After Due Process, Convicted Felony Maybe on resume?
Correction, Felon
He can always get a job at the Vatican.
in other news, the earthquake warning was canceled when it was reassessed and determined that it was merely caused by a group of lawyers.........
The football area? ....on no here we go again.....
I completely condemn what this guy did, BUT in light of the fact that some abuses on students BY OTHER STUDENTS do occur in private areas, I think it is a good idea for schools to install listening devices in schools to monitor private areas where abuses can occur. For example, some abuses (e.g., beating up other students, using drugs, drinking alcohol) occur in school restrooms (I saw things like this happen when I was in high school). I think installing devices that record voices should be installed in private areas to prevent these types of abuses from occurring. If students know that their voices are being recorded, they would be less inclined to take advantage of these areas for their own nefarious uses. Even cameras installed to record entrances to restrooms (specifically and only the door entrance) can record the comings and goings of students and therefore help prevent abuses from occurring. However, this guy needs to be locked up for what he did. Never should anyone be recording private parts of anyone else...especially those underage. Lock him up!!
Secret cameras anywhere is never a good idea!
That was a pretty stupid thing to do. But I guess stupid is as stupid does.
"We at the school will notify the parents of any students whose photograph is identified so that they can be alerted to this situation and so that the students can be provided whatever counseling or other assistance might be necessary," Colman said in his letter.
That's also rather stupid; if they don't know, they have nothing to be distressed about, and nothing to need counseling for.
It's a very small school. Less than 1000 students. Every girl is thinking the worst. Every girl has been in those areas he filmed.
Knowing what exactly is there can only help.
Of course, jrsygrl. Students are going to know, period. It is on the news. You can't hide it from them.
And, once arrested, every student will wonder if they are among his victims. That type of anxiety is horrible for a teen, or for anyone, for that matter. Better to find out that you weren't victimized, or if you were, now know to get help with dealing with the expected negative reactions to it. Even those that weren't victimized personally are likely to have negative reactions they need to deal with.
So, was he selling the tapes to the priests? Waiting for the other shoe to drop....
You're wrong.... because the priests only want tapes of naked little boys.
Hands on sex education available exclusively at Catholic schools
I hope he has some of Snooki from Jersey Shore. LOL.
Hey, that's an picture of me and my junk in the locker room!
It is a katholic school so what did or do you expect?
He actually was working for the pope. He was collecting film clips,pictures etc.of nude boys and girls so the pope would have something to look and play with his dick with between choir boys. It was all perfectly innocent.
thank you for your time
Released on his own recognizance...? You know what the fathers in that town are thinking right now and Ankrist, You've watched "Breakfast Club" one too many times.
this guy is accurately described as a perv. however, nude pictures are not considered porn by the law. also, if he didn't touch any of them, then he hasn't molested anyone. he is a classic voyeur. he will suffer fallout, but not as a child molester or child porn subscriber, it will fall under the pervy violator of privacy.
He has violated these kids the same as if he had put his hands on them.
Get a fuking grip already. He peeps at young girls and female teachers. Let's not give him the death penalty for being a peeping tom.
Have you ever dated a catholic school girls??? Those bitches are crazy.
Bottom line: You cant trust anyone, anymore. There are good guys but they are few and far between. Friends soon turn into backstabbers, co workers turn into greedy brown nosers, and family always want more from you to benefit them.
The sad part is, unless you really know someone, you cant trust anybody because they will turn on you in a minute, they the pit bulls of society.
This POS needs to go to prison to help Bubba in the showers.
what makes this even more horrifying is that he is so ugly creepy looking which is always why these guys resort to such deviant behavior, they can't get dates, etc, and view porn but have no outlet and become so twisted. I am sure this stuff happens more often than we know, ugly perverts with oversexualized thoughts. and if you look at sites where you can view sex offenders pictures, especially those that victimized children, brace yourself, you will feel so much empathy for the children that had to endure them, the ugliest sickest looking men you will ever see even a crack whore wouldn't take their money. may god punish them to the fullest extent.
Yeah, all ugly guys are sex offending pedophiles. Good generalization there Terri. So if an attractive guy rapes a woman its not as bad? Got it.
Yeah, Terri Lee, I'm sure you're on your God's list, too, just on general principles; namely, you're every bit as "creepy" as those you seemed so fixated on
Just fire the guy and charge him with a crime so there's a record of it. I'm tired of non-violent offenders getting prison/jail time and having to pay for that! Lets get the violent ones and the property thieves who are the REAL bain of society. We seek out perversion yet would call the cops in a heart beat if a neighbor walks around naked...and watch porn sites as #1 recreational surfing...WTF. As society gets creepier we need to toughen up...legalize all drugs and identify REAL crimes for punishment...social judgement isn't such a punishment anymore because we no longer respect each other anyway...
It's b-a-n-e but I appreciate the reference to Willard "Mitt" Romney and the Bain mafia.
Just another Republican turning a buck on the sweat of others.
They'll probably blame it on Obama since this occurred during his watch.
Custodian, custodian what do you do?
"I clean toilets and then I spy on them too!"