help

collapse

Press one of the expand buttons to see the full text of an article. Later press collapse to revert to the original form. The buttons below expand or collapse all articles.

expand

collapse

Voyeur

August 15, 2012 permalink

Pennsylvania foster dad John Gould used a one-way mirror to spy on his teenaged foster girls in the shower.

expand

collapse

Constable charged with watching foster daughters in shower

NORTHUMBERLAND — A Luzerne County constable used a one-way mirror hidden behind a photograph to watch his two foster daughters, ages 17 and 15, in the shower room of his recreational vehicle in Point Township, according to charges filed in Milton district court.

Point Township police have charged John Gould, 54, of Kingston, a foster parent to a number of children, with six misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy.

Gould viewed the juveniles at Splash Magic Campground between June 28 and July 1, according to court documents that also stated the 15-year-old became suspicious when she heard a noise in the wall while she shaved her legs in the bathroom, and put her pants back on.

She told the older girl about the noise. The girls began to investigate and found the one-way mirror, court documents said.

The girls reported the incident and discovery to Lackawanna County Children and Youth workers.

Some foster children under the care of Gould in the past had made complaints that were unfounded, according to Kingston police, who also said some foster children are “sharp at working the system.”

However, Point Township police searched the recreational vehicle and found a 10-inch by 12-inch hole containing the one-way mirror that was hidden behind a picture, according to court documents.

The girls showed pictures of the mirror during their interview with Lackawanna County Children and Youth and Kingston police, according to court documents, and said Gould would also “brush up against them” while walking through the recreational vehicle.

The girls told Point Township police officer Nate Fisher they showered once a day during the three-day camping trip, court records said.

Agencies silent

Declining to comment on the case were Lackawanna County Children and Youth, the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office and Kingston police.

Protocol should have been in place, Northumberland County Children and Youth officials said.

“There are two things the police department could do,” said Jennifer Willard, Northumberland County Children and Youth Services administrator. “They can call Child Line or call the local children and youth in the area.”

Child Line is a direct call to state wide officials who will mandate a person investigate the claims immediately.

A Northumberland County foster parent for children ages 15-21 is paid roughly $900 per child per month, Willard said.

Gould denied wrongdoing in an interview with police. The girls have been placed with another foster family.

Gould is scheduled for a Sept. 12 preliminary hearing before District Judge Richard Cashman in Milton. Each second-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum $5,000 fine and up to two years in jail.

Source: Daily Item, Sunbury Pennsylvania

shaving legs

sequential