At least 10 female victims identified

By Barney Lerten, KTVZ.COM

A 26-year-old Bend man has been arrested for invasion of privacy and could face more serious charges, accused of using a small, hidden digital camera to secretly record video of at least 10 women under their skirts or in dressing or rest rooms, police said late Tuesday.

Lorenzo Gonzalez-Mendoza was arrested on five misdemeanor counts of invasion of personal privacy on June 23 at the Bend Fred Meyer store after a loss prevention officer noticed him acting strangely and learned he was conducting the secret recording, then called police, said Sgt. Dan Ritchie.

Gonzalez-Mendoza allegedly had the camera in an attaché or briefcase on a long shoulder strap and placed it on the ground beside women while walking around several stores in the area. He also is accused of taking the hidden camera into dressing and rest rooms, in an effort to catch women nude or partially unclothed, Ritchie said.

Besides Fred Meyer, other locations where the recordings allegedly took place included several stores at the Old Mill District and possibly the public rest rooms at Drake Park, Ritchie said.

The arrest was not announced initially because officers had seized the man's computer and knew it would take some time to review seized computer and video files, to see if more serious charges are warranted. That process is still under way, the sergeant said.

"There's probably at least 10 victims, as far as we know" at this point, Ritchie said, but the time frame also is not yet clear: "Who knows how long this guy has been doing this?"

Lorenzo was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on June 23 and released on his own recognizance that day, pending a court appearance this week.

If children appear in any of the pictures or video, "those could be much more serious" charges, Ritchie added.