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Villanova Student Busted for iPhone Porn

By Andrew Lu on February 25, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Villanova University student Tyler Jones is facing felony charges for allegedly secretly recording women undressing in a bathroom with his phone and uploading the videos to a porn website.

Police say that Jones secretly recorded three women undressing by hiding his iPhone in the bathroom, reports NBC.

Jones allegedly captured images of the women in various states of undress including images of bare breasts. The student then uploaded the phone images to a porn site from his dorm room at Villanova.

One of the victims alerted police to the video porn when a friend saw the video online, reports NBC. Jones reportedly admitted to police that he secretly took the videos.

Jones now faces charges that are far more serious than what he may have bargained for. When police investigated the incident, they discovered two other victims. One of the victims happened to be a minor, only 17-years-old.

As a result, the student has been charged with dissemination and possession of child pornography, in addition to invasion of privacy, and posting obscene materials on the Internet and criminal use of a communication facility, writes NBC.

Pennsylvania Child Porn Charges

Pennsylvania law prohibits the photographing, filming, and videotaping of a sexual act involving any child under the age of 18. In addition, state laws prohibit the dissemination of child pornography materials. This includes sharing, selling, distributing, or exhibiting materials or recordings that include children under the age of 18.

As Jones admitted to filming the bathroom, his best defense may be to argue that the pictures taken do not constitute sexual acts or pornography. His ignorance as to the victim’s age would not be a valid defense to the crime. If he is convicted of the offense, Jones could face ten years in jail for the child porn charges alone.

Registration as a Sexual Offender

Besides jail time, Jones also may have to register as a sex offender. Generally, in Pennsylvania, defendants convicted of certain crimes including disseminating and possessing child porn may have to register their name on a sex offender registry for at least 15 years.

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