Exclusive: No charge for accused buttocks video voyeur

Friday, October 2, 2009

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

The HSCO said Krishna Ajvalia secretly filmed women's buttocks with a video camera concealed inside his jacket. Exclusive surveillance video Watch Video

TAMPA (Bay News 9) - In a Bay News 9 exclusive, the state attorney's office has dropped a video voyeurism charge against a man accused of secretly filming women's buttocks in a Tampa department store.

Krishna Ajvalia, 30, was arrested September 10 after he was seen on store surveillance holding a video camera concealed inside his jacket, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

According to the arrest report, a deputy who reviewed the video captured by Ajvalia's camera said it showed he had been filming several women's buttocks without their consent.

Assistant state attorney Pam Bondi looked at the surveillance video and says while Ajvalia's actions are in poor taste it's not a crime.

"Although that behavior is completely reprehensible, it was later determined that it did not meet statutory criteria for prosecution under the law," she said.

More Information

Read the letter from the state attorney's office, and the HCSO arrest report (.pdf)

Bondi says to violate the voyeurism law a person has to be secretly videotaping someone dressing or undressing in a private area or filming through or underneath someone's clothes.

A misdemeanor video voyeurism charge against Ajvalia was dropped on September 22.

Ajvalia and his attorney declined Bay News 9's request for an interview.

His wife, who says she has not seen the security video, said her husband was innocent from the beginning.

"I think he was wrongfully accused," said Sheetal Ajvalia, speaking to Bay News 9 from her home in Land O' Lakes. "I think my husband needs an apology."

The state attorneys office had "no comment" about an apology. The sheriff's office says the video speaks for itself.