A Canyon Country man charged with secretly filming a woman without her consent at the Valencia Town Center pleaded not guilty April 14, according to records from the Santa Clarita Courthouse.
The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office charged Stephen Michael Martin, 35, with one count of 647(J)(2) of the penal section, a misdemeanor “invasion of privacy” to secretly photograph or record a person’s body or undergarments without consent for sexual arousal.
Martin was originally due in court April 13, left before his case was heard and ordered back the following day, according to the minute order for Judge Gary Micon’s Department 3. Martin also was advised of his rights as a veteran under Penal Code section 858.
“It was based on an incident that was reported to us last July by the local mall,” said Shirley Miller, referring to the Valencia Town Center. “This individual, allegedly he had a camera on his foot, on the top of his shoe, and he was noticed following women and girls on the escalator and positioning his foot.”
A detective involved in the investigation indicated the evidence showed multiple instances of the recording that was described; however, it was difficult to identify further victims because of the camera angle.
The complaint filed last week lists one named victim.
Martin was ordered to undergo electronic monitoring as a term of his bail. He also was ordered to stay away from the Valencia mall, schools, parks, amusement parks and other places where minors are known to congregate.
He was ordered back Friday, when Micon addressed an “absconding” issue — reportedly a dead battery on his ankle monitor, according to court records.
He has been out of custody on $50,000 bail. He’s due back in court next month.
