Villanova University student arrested in 'up-skirting' video investigation

A part-time Villanova University student has been arrested and charged with using a cellphone camera to take videos and photographs of unknowing victims in public areas and restrooms, including on the school's Main Line campus, the Delaware County District Attorney's office said Wednesday.

Vincent Kane, 19, of the 100 block of Sterner Avenue in Broomall, surrendered to authorities and was charged with possession of child pornography, sexual abuse of children, criminal use of a communications facility, and related crimes. Kane was arraigned and released on 10 percent of $50,000 bail.

According to the District Attorney's Office, a hidden cellphone was found on Sept. 26 recording in a Villanova University bathroom. The phone was determined to belong to Kane, who lives off campus.

Investigators found  a number of videos and still images of individuals being secretly recorded including an "up-skirt" video at a CVS pharmacy, where Kane worked.

When questioned by both university authorities and county detectives, Kane allegedly said he had been making videos for about two years. He gave them consent to search a school-issued laptop and his custom-built desktop computer, according to the District Attorney's Office.

A search warrant found a hard drive hidden in Kane's bedroom closet that held more than 51,000 images and videos, some of individuals recorded in a Villanova classroom and a local high school, authorities said.

Images and videos of child pornography were also found on his computer including one of a toddler being sexually assaulted by an adult male, authorities said. Also found were about 300 images taken up the gym shorts of a girl about 12 years old, according to the District Attorney's Office.

As part of bail conditions, Kane is barred from Villanova's campus, is required to undergo a psychosexual evaluation, and cannot access the internet or have any contact with minors.  His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Kane's lawyer could not be reached for comment late Wednesday afternoon.