Estevan Carreon
A teacher at Independence High School has been arrested for allegedly using spy cameras to secretly record students while they undressed in a changing room.
According to court records, Estevan Carreon, 53, was booked into jail on four counts of voyeurism, four counts of surreptitious photography and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Carreon, who has been teaching for over 20 years was assigned to the media club at Independence High School in Glendale two years ago.
According to court documents, Carreon arranged a meeting with a group of students over spring break to receive extra credit. Before the students arrival, court documents detail that Carreon set up spy cameras in the changing room of the classroom. He secretly recorded those students while they changed clothes as part of the special project on March 18. The group consisted of two boys and four girls and ranged in ages of 15-17. They were recorded in various states of undress, including one of who was nude.
It was at the time when the two boys were in the changing room, one of them happen to notice a power charger plugged into the outlet. When he looked closer at it, he saw a hidden camera built into the device. The second student hid the camera and concealed it from Carreon.
The two male students told the other students about what they found and proceeded to search the changing room for other devices. Documents state they found two additional hidden cameras.
At one point Carreon realized the first device was missing. He accused the students of taking items detailing that it belonged to the janitor.
Detailed in the probable cause statement, when the students told Carreon they did not have the item, Carreon “started to panic and told them he could go to jail for a long time if they did not return the item.”
Carreon confronted each one, but one of the students was able to get out of school with possession of the spy camera.
The students told their parents about what they discovered. After contacting police, investigators discovered that the SD card located in the charger contained video of the nude female students.
Police found an additional SD card at the school and recovered videos showing the girls from a different angle, in addition actual recordings of Carreon setting up the cameras and removing them from the changing room.
A search warrant was obtained for Carreon’s home and his digital media. Carreon was arrested by Glendale police on Monday. His bond was set at $50,000.
A full investigation is underway to determine if there are additional victims in this case.
Glendale Union High School District sent out the following statement, reporting Carreon has been placed on administrative leave:
“We are actively working with the Glendale Police Department regarding this matter. In accordance with policy, Glendale Union High School District cannot provide details regarding personnel matters; however, we can confirm that the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending further action, has been relieved of all duties and has been arrested. We are unable to provide any additional comments on this matter.”