Curfew Set For Salon Owner Charged With Unlawful Videotaping
POSTED: Thursday, August 3, 2006
UPDATED: 12:00 pm CDT August 3,
2006
HOUSTON -- A salon owner charged with videotaping unsuspecting nude customers in his salon's tanning booth appeared in court Thursday and was placed on a curfew, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Douglas Dinh, 48, was charged last week with unlawful videotaping at his Top Nails salon. Humble police said they found two video cameras and footage of customers while police were investigating a sexual assault allegation.
Dinh admitted to taping the customers, police said.
"He was so brazen to where he had fixed the door where it wouldn't lock and appeared locked. While women were in there tanning, while they put the glasses on and headphones on, he would actually enter the room while they were tanning and video them," said Det. Eric Squier with the Humble Police Department
Dinh made no comment as he walked into court.
A judge found there was probable cause to back the charges.
Squier said one camera had been installed in the ceiling and another "pin-sized" camera was taped to the bottom of a chair and connected to a wireless remote.
Police confiscated several tapes and DVDs, and Dinh's computer and hard drive. They found footage of at least seven unidentified women, officials said.
Dinh was released on $50,000 bond. He was given a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
"This judge often sets curfews on such a serious case, kind of a suspected sex offender, so we're going to make sure that we know where he is during the evening hours," prosecutor Wendy Baker said.
Investigators said they have received numerous calls from customers and parents of customers who tanned in the shop. They said the victims range in age from 7 to 49 years old.
Anyone who believes they were videotaped is urged to contact the Humble Police Department at 281-319-9769.
Copyright 2007 by Click2Houston.com.
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