Wilmington College janitor hid in ceiling to spy on team
A Wilmington College custodian was arrested after police say he hid in a locker room ceiling to photograph the women’s soccer team while they changed. Jayson Barker of Jeffersonville, Ohio, faces 11 voyeurism counts. Campus security detained him at the Scheve Athletic Center; the college cut ties with his vendor and is offering counseling.
Key Takeaways
- Police say Jayson Barker hid above the Wilmington College women’s soccer locker room and was spotted with a phone.
- He faces 11 counts of voyeurism and has posted $22,000 bail ahead of an Oct. 5 court date.
- Barker worked for vendor Scioto; Wilmington College ended that contract and put him on a no-trespass order.
- Investigators seized his phone and say additional charges remain possible.
The case lands in the same lane as other bizarre news stories that grip readers—but the stakes for student athletes are serious. According to FOX19, Wilmington police were called to the Scheve Athletic Center around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday after a player saw someone in the ceiling.
What did police say happened at Wilmington College?
Campus safety officers detained Barker until police arrived. An affidavit filed in Clinton County Municipal Court says 11 players were changing when they saw someone holding a phone emerge from the drop ceiling, followed by a flash that suggested a photo or video was being taken.
Wilmington Detective Matt Hamilton told WLWT that Barker "climbed up and was able to push the ceiling tile." Police allege he was photographing members of the women’s soccer team while they changed.
How did Barker respond to the accusations?
The affidavit says Barker claimed he was above the ceiling reading the Bible on his phone and did not take any pictures. He also said he sometimes goes up there to read on his phone, then turns it off before returning to work. The phone was off when police arrived and was later confiscated as evidence.
While en route to jail, Barker stated he had an unloaded shotgun in his car parked at the college, the affidavit said, according to FOX19.
What charges does he face and what comes next?
Barker was charged with 11 counts of voyeurism. He was booked into the Clinton County Jail on a $22,000 cash or surety bond and has since posted bail. His next appearance is set for Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. in Clinton County Municipal Court.
Wilmington police said the investigation remains active. Detectives are reviewing evidence and obtained a search warrant for his cell phone to determine whether he had been in the locker room before and whether he could face additional charges. NBC News reported investigators are also trying to determine whether Barker has a history of similar conduct.
How did Wilmington College respond?
Barker was a contracted custodian employed by third-party vendor Scioto, college spokesperson Randall Sarvis said. Wilmington College severed ties with Scioto the next day and placed Barker on a no-trespass order. Sarvis said the building is being evaluated for additional security.
In a statement, the college said its "paramount concern is the safety and well-being of its students" and that it has provided counseling and other support since Tuesday night while assisting law enforcement.