College voyeur gets jail and probation after secretly filming nude women in dorm bathroom
Lancaster, PA — A former Franklin & Marshall College student who secretly recorded female students in a dormitory bathroom was sentenced this week to county jail and nine years of probation following his guilty plea to a series of charges connected to the hidden camera scheme.
John James Riley, 20, of York Township, was sentenced on October 1 to serve eight to 23 months in county jail, followed by nine years of supervised probation. He will serve the first year of probation on house arrest and is prohibited from being within 500 yards of the Franklin & Marshall campus.
Riley admitted to planting a hidden camera in multiple locations within the female section of an all-gender dormitory bathroom between September and November 2023. Investigators determined he recorded more than 1,000 videos capturing 19 identified victims in various stages of undress and private conversations. Police say none of the victims consented to being filmed.
The investigation began after female students discovered the hidden camera and reported it to Franklin & Marshall College Public Safety, which turned over the device to police. The Lancaster City Bureau of Police launched a detailed probe led by Detective Jared Snader, ultimately identifying dozens of recordings and linking Riley to the footage.
In June, Riley pleaded guilty to 19 counts of intercepting communications, 19 counts of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of possession of an instrument of crime with intent, and 19 counts of invasion of privacy.
During sentencing, victims addressed the court, describing the lasting psychological harm caused by the recordings, including anxiety, panic attacks, and feelings of constant violation. Many had previously considered Riley a friend and expressed deep feelings of betrayal.
Prosecutors sought a state prison sentence, citing evidence that Riley found sexual gratification in the act of secretly recording women without their knowledge. A forensic psychologist’s evaluation supported that finding. However, Judge Dennis Reinaker determined that a longer sentence would not be in the community’s best interest.
As part of his sentence, Riley is also banned from contacting any of the victims or their families.
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Key Points
- John James Riley, 20, sentenced to jail and probation for secretly recording women in a Franklin & Marshall College dorm bathroom
- Police recovered over 1,000 recordings; 19 victims were identified, with others still unknown
- Riley is banned from campus, must serve house arrest, and cannot contact victims or their families
