At least 80 females victimized by photographer who secretly took indecent photos: Court docs
Josephine PetersonA professional photographer secretly took inappropriate photos of females at least 80 times over a three-month span with victims across Delaware, according to court documents.
Elias R. Stephens, 34, was hired by Sussex Technical High School to take photos at the "Starry Starry Night" homecoming dance on Sept. 29, state police confirmed.
A semiprivate photo booth was set up for students to pose for pictures, according to a News Journal photographer covering the dance that night.
The following morning, the high school tweeted about allegations of inappropriate photos taken.
"The Delaware State Police is investigating an incident involving inappropriate photography by a hired photographer," state police told The News Journal.
Stephens was indicted earlier this month on 80 counts of privacy violation or attempted privacy violation. At 10 other Delaware events, Stephens reportedly took or tried to take indecent photos secretly, according to the indictment.
The charges state he "did secretly or surreptitiously videotape, film, photograph or otherwise record [redacted] under or through that person's clothing ... ."
Stephens was indicted by the grand jury on the following counts:
- Four counts in Kent County on June 7.
- 12 counts in Kent County on June 9.
- Six counts in New Castle County on June 30.
- Six counts in New Castle County on July 14.
- Five counts in Kent County on July 21.
- Six counts in New Castle County on Aug. 3 and 4.
- 15 counts in Kent County on Aug. 18.
- 13 counts in Sussex County on Sept. 8.
- Five counts in Kent County on Sept. 15.
- One count in Kent County on Sept. 16.
- Seven counts in Sussex County on Sept. 29.
SpinJocs LLC, the entertainment company hired to provide the photo booth and DJ for the homecoming dance, told The News Journal the following day that it was cooperating with the police investigation.
"No DJs affiliated with SpinJocs are being investigated," the company's lawyer, Dianna Louder, said in a statement. "The investigation is ongoing and [the owner] has cooperated, and will continue to fully cooperate, with the State Police investigation."
Stephens was extradited back to Delaware on Tuesday after he moved to Mississippi during the investigation.
He was jailed at the Sussex County Correctional Institution on a $160,000 secured bond with the conditions that he does not contact the victims; does not possess any recording devices; and if released on bond, is monitored via GPS and pretrial supervision.
Sussex Tech High School announced on Twitter that counseling services are available to any student or faculty member.
This story includes information from Delaware News Journal reporter Jessica Bies and Salisbury Daily Times reporter Rose Velazquez.
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Contact Josephine Peterson at (302) 324-2856 or jhpeterson@delawareonline.com. Follow her @jopeterson93.