More charges filed against man accused of putting cameras in Fort Madison restaurant bathroom

Brad Vidmar, The Hawk Eye
·2 min read

A Fort Madison man accused of taking photos and video of unsuspecting women in a restaurant bathroom is facing additional charges after investigators say they discovered more victims.

In August, Charles Meyer, 50, was charged with 14 counts of invasion of privacy, four counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a child (class C felony), prostitution (class D felony), two counts of purchasing/possession depictions of a minor in a sex act (aggravated misdemeanor), and one count of being a domestic abuse offender in possession of a firearm (class D felony).

The charges initially stemmed from an investigation into allegations that Meyer had four sexual encounters with a 15-year-old he met through a dating website, including one incident where he allegedly paid the teenager $100.

After Meyer was arrested and charged in that incident, investigators say they discovered digital videos and photos in Meyer's possession showing at least 14 women (including one victim who appeared to be under age 10) in various stages of undress while using the restroom at Vel's Amigos Restaurant, located at 1226 37th St. in Fort Madison, where Meyer worked as a manager, according to a criminal complaint. Police say those images and videos where taken between July 2020 and August 2021.

On Oct. 24, investigators with the Fort Madison Police Department received information from a search warrant executed on Google and Meyer's Gmail account that revealed photos and video of 17 additional victims shot in the bathroom of Vel's Amigos Restaurant, according to a criminal complaint.

More:Fort Madison man accused of sexually abusing a minor and recording women in restaurant bathroom

According to court records, the photos and videos were taken on the following dates in 2020:

  • May 30;

  • June 3;

  • June 4;

  • June 9;

  • June 21;

  • July 3;

  • July 4;

  • July 24;

  • July 30 (two victims recorded on this date);

  • Aug. 10;

  • Aug. 14;

  • Aug. 15 (two victims recorded on this date);

  • Aug. 16;

  • Sept. 3;

  • Sept. 6; and

  • Sept. 12.

On Oct. 25, Meyer was charged with 17 counts of invasion of privacy-nudity (aggravated misdemeanors).

An arraignment for those charges is scheduled for 8 a.m. Nov. 15 at the North Lee County Courthouse in Fort Madison.

Meyer is also scheduled to go to trial for the other charges at 9 a.m. that same day.

More:Charges dismissed in Lee County sex abuse case

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Investigators claim 17 additional victims in bathroom camera case