A Denton barbershop owner is facing an invasive visual recording charge after an employee discovered a cellphone concealed inside a restroom and pointed toward the toilet area, according to police.
Jose Luis Alvarez Williams, 37, turned himself in to the Denton Police Department on Sept. 10 on an outstanding warrant connected to the Aug. 3 incident at his business in the 700 block of South Elm Street.
The case began when a female employee found what appeared to be a cellphone hidden inside a box in the restroom. A cutout in the box exposed the phone’s camera lens, which was positioned toward the toilet area.
The employee photographed what she had found and reported it to police. Investigators subsequently determined that the phone belonged to Alvarez Williams and accused him of placing it in the restroom to record her.
The woman later left her job at the barbershop.
Alvarez Williams was released after posting a $2,500 bond, according to the latest local reporting. He is facing a charge of invasive visual recording. Under Texas law, the offense can apply when a person records another individual without consent in a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, including a bathroom, and it is classified as a state jail felony.
Police say there is currently no evidence of additional victims
Earlier reports raised questions about whether other people may have been recorded. The investigation remains open, but Denton police said they currently have no evidence of additional victims. That is the latest publicly reported position from investigators.
The development has also drawn concern from a former customer who said she and her family had used the barbershop’s restroom. The business has since closed, and several of its online accounts are no longer active.
Former pastor removed from church duties
Alvarez Williams also previously served as a pastor with Victory World Outreach Fellowship.
Church leaders said he was removed from all pastoral responsibilities after they learned about the allegations involving his barbershop. The church also said the alleged conduct did not occur at the church or in connection with its ministry and that it would cooperate with authorities.
The victim’s identity has not been publicly released.
For now, the criminal investigation remains ongoing. Alvarez Williams has been accused of invasive visual recording, but the allegations have not been resolved in court.
