Isla Vista Man Charged with 26 Counts of Unlawful Peeping

By the edhat staff

Santa Barbara County’s District Attorney has charged an Isla Vista man with 26 counts of Unlawful Peeping.

Justin Obinna Asinobi, 22, was arrested for allegedly placing hidden cameras in the bathroom of a victim’s home. District Attorney John T. Savrnoch stated the peeping charge is a Misdemeanor in violation of Penal Code section 647(j)(2) and Counts 1 through 12 pertain to identified victims with Counts 13 through 26 pertaining to unidentified victims.

On February 15, 2022, Isla Vista Foot Patrol Deputies began investigating a report of a video recording device found in a bathroom in a residence in the 6500 block of Madrid. Through their investigation, deputies identified the suspect as Asinobi.

“Deputies contacted Asinobi at his residence and recovered several surreptitious recording devices that they believe were used to record victims without their knowledge,” according to a 2022 press release from the Sheriff’s Office.

Asinobi was arrested on February 15, 2022, at approximately 3:33 p.m. and booked at the Main Jail for invasion of privacy by means of an electronic device (misdemeanor) and eavesdropping (felony).

Asinobi appeared in Court on Wednesday before Honorable Judge Raimundo Montes de Oca. Bail was set at $200,000, and the Asinobi was ordered not to have any contact with the victims, stay out of Isla Vista and be subject to GPS monitoring.

The Court continued arraignment to Friday, February 23, 2023 in Department 8 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court.

Recording devices recovered by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office (SBSO photo)