A Rutgers University dean of research was charged with invasion of privacy
Joshua Kohut, 51, has been charged over alleged "upskirt" photos the dean allegedly took while working at the university.
A Rutgers University dean of research has been charged with invasion of privacy, the New Jersey attorney general announced Wednesday.
Joshua Kohut, 51, who serves as the dean of research at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, is accused of using his mobile phone to record “upskirt” videos of people without their knowledge while working at the university, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said. Davenport did not say how many victims there were, or whether they were students or coworkers.
“An invasion of privacy like this is not just disturbing, it is also a criminal act. We will prosecute accordingly,” Davenport said.
The attorney general’s office received a complaint regarding Kohut on June 14. He was observed on multiple occasions using his cell phone to record a person’s intimate parts underneath “her skirt,” according to the Office of Attorney General.
A search warrant was executed Monday, and authorities seized five of Kohut’s devices. During a forensic review, one of the seized devices was found to contain “upskirt” videos of another person’s undergarments and “intimate parts,” according to the attorney general. Prosecutors did not disclose where the warrant was executed, how many videos were discovered, or over what time period they filmed.
A Rutgers spokesperson said Kohut was banned from campus pending the outcome of the investigation, and the university placed him on administrative leave “after being informed of the extremely disturbing charges.”
Kohut is facing a charge of fourth-degree invasion of privacy, which carries a prison sentence of up to 18 months and a fine of up to $10,000.
