HAINES CITY, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of voyeurism after authorities said he attempted to record under a 9-year-old girl’s dress at a Walmart.
Levi Jonathan, 41, of Winter Haven, was arrested Thursday by Haines City police, The Ledger of Lakeland reported. Jonathan was charged with video voyeurism, a felony, according to Polk County jail records.
According to police, the victim was with her mother at the Walmart on July 1 when Jonathan began following her around, WFLA reported. Police said that surveillance video showed when the child’s mother turned away, Jonathan knelt down and attempted to film beneath the girl’s dress with his phone, the television station reported.
The girl’s mother eventually saw what was happening and reported it to store officials, The Ledger reported. Jonathan left the store in the interim, the newspaper reported.
Detectives arrested Jonathan at his home on Thursday.
“While this is the first time he’s being criminally charged for recording young girls, I can say unequivocally, given my experience, that this is not his only victim,” Haines City police Chief Jim Elensky said in a statement. “I applaud our detectives for doing a thorough investigation. Equally as important, I commend the girl’s mother for speaking up for her daughter. I encourage parents everywhere to report this type of behavior. If you see something, you need to say something.”
Jonathan has two prior arrests in Polk County on drug-related charges, according to a news release issued by Haines City police spokesperson Mike Ferguson.
Jonathan is currently out of jail after posting $5,000 bail, according to jail records.