Villanova Student Arrested for Campus Upskirt Videos, Child Porn
The Delaware County district attorney’s office today announced the arrest of a 19-year-old Broomall man on felony child pornography charges and invasion of privacy charges for allegedly taking “upskirt” photos and videos in public places and bathrooms, including on the campuses of Villanova University and Cardinal O’Hara High School.
According to a criminal complaint filed today in Commonwealth Court, Vincent Kane, a part-time Villanova student who lives off campus, first came to police attention in late September, when a female Villanova student reported finding a hidden cell phone in a campus unisex bathroom to campus police. The phone contained videos and images of women being secretly recorded, including an upskirt video taken at a local CVS.
Police confronted Kane, who in a taped statement admitted placing the phone in the bathroom and told detectives that he had masturbated to the illicit videos. After saying that he had been making similar recordings for about two years, he allowed police to search his home and school computers.
While examining the computer, an investigator realized that it was accessing files from an external hard drive, which was found in a closet during a search of Kane’s residence. The hard drive contained more than 51,000 images and videos of individuals filmed surreptitiously, the complaint says.
Twelve upskirt videos on the drive were allegedly taken at a CVS Kane worked at from June 2015 to September of this year. Police also found more than 300 images of a girl who appeared to be around age 12, whom Kane had attempted to take upskirt photos of, according to the complaint. They also found child pornography on the drive, including a “image [that] depicted indecent contact with an infant.”
Kane was charged with multiple felonies, including possession of child pornography, sexual abuse of children, criminal use of a communication facility, and intercepting communications. He’s also accused of two misdemeanors, invasion of privacy and the creation of obscene materials.
“I would like to commend Chief [David] Tedjeske and Villanova University Police for their swift response to this matter of public safety on campus,” D.A. Jack Whelan said in a release. “I would also like to commend Det. [Edmond] Pisani for his efforts in this investigation which revealed Vincent Kane as not only a voyeur but also an individual who exploits children for his own deviant pleasure. For his own sexual gratification, Vincent Kane surreptitiously recorded countless victims, including his fellow students, violating and breaching their personal security which can never be restored. If convicted, Kane faces prison time and Megan’s Law registration.”
Kane surrendered to police today and posted bail.