“Upskirt pictures” — an ongoing issue these days as cell phone cameras, which are small and easy to hide, make taking voyeuristic images easier. People can more readily hide these cameras — and take images of women (generally) without their knowledge.
However, people can be caught as happened to Jefferey Goldstein who was arrested and charged with taking an upskirt picture of a 13 year old girl on a cruise ship. The name of the cruise ship has not been released. Goldstein is looking at up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Per a press release from the US Department of Justice:
On July 8, 2018, a cruise ship left Bayonne for Bermuda. Goldstein was a passenger. That evening, a thirteen-year old girl was standing on the deck of the cruise ship facing outward toward the water.
Goldstein allegedly approached the victim and, without her permission, placed his iPhone underneath the skirt of her dress, pointed the camera upward towards the victim’s genitalia and buttocks and took a picture. The victim felt something touch her leg. Goldstein moved to the side of the victim and soon walked away.
A nearby adult saw Goldstein take a photo up the victim’s dress. Cruise ship personnel reviewed surveillance footage of the incident, which confirmed the witness’s account and identified Goldstein as the man in the footage.
Pursuant to a search warrant, the FBI later downloaded the contents of Goldstein’s iPhone and found the photo of the girl, along with several other “up-skirt” images.
Upskirt and downblouse photos on cruise ships
Taking images like this has become epidemic. Sadly, many incidents are not reported as victims are not aware that they are being filmed.
While these action may violate voyeurism statutes, they can certainly be seen as sexual harassment.
Waks and Barnett, P.A. | Admiralty and Maritime Law
Waks & Barnett attorneys practice in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death, with a focus on Cruise Ship Injury and Accidents, Admiralty and Maritime cases. For more information, please call our office in Miami — our number is 1-800-905-2891. All initial consultations are free of charge.
Cruise ship accidents are not uncommon, with many leading to personal injury and wrongful death suits filed against the cruise lines. Waks and Barnett, P.A. has successfully handled many of these cases over the past 25 years.