Secret Recordings and Legal Rights: The Case of Mitchell Wasek
A pre-trial hearing is set to begin next week for Mitchell Wasek, a former law student and son of Buc-ee’s co-founder, who is accused of secretly recording people in various intimate settings, including bathrooms and bedrooms.
The Allegations
According to authorities, Wasek recorded people using the bathroom, showering, changing clothes, and engaging in sexual activities at his Dallas home and his father’s home on Lake Travis. He faces 21 counts of invasive visual recordings.
The Investigation
The case unfolded in May when a guest at the lake house, visiting Wasek, spotted a charging port with a hidden camera plugged into the bathroom wall. The man, who worked in cybersecurity, took the camera and left with his friends. On the camera’s memory card, the guests found dozens of videos of themselves and others in the bathroom and bedrooms at Mitchell Wasek’s apartment in The Village in Dallas and the lake house on the banks of Lake Travis.
The Legal Proceedings
Wasek’s attorney, David Gonzalez, has emphasized that the case involves the legal right to install cameras in one’s home and the ubiquitousness of video recording. "May a homeowner install a camera in his home without telling housekeepers or guests, or does the guest have a greater legal right than the homeowner?" Gonzalez asked in an email. "This is one of many thorny legal issues we will be litigating in this case."
The Civil Lawsuit
In addition to the criminal charges, Wasek faces a civil lawsuit in Dallas County. Two women identified in court documents as Jane Doe are suing the former law student for violating their privacy. The lawsuit, which seeks at least $1 million in damages, alleges that the women were "lured into a house of horrors" and recorded "in their most vulnerable and exposed states."
The Trial
The pre-trial hearing is scheduled for February 26 in Travis County. The civil trial is set to begin in December. If convicted, Wasek faces up to two years in state jail on each count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the nature of the allegations against Mitchell Wasek?
A: Wasek is accused of secretly recording people in various intimate settings, including bathrooms and bedrooms.
Q: How many people were recorded?
A: At least 13 people were recorded, using toilets, showering, changing clothes, and/or having sex.
Q: How many videos were found on the camera’s memory card?
A: Dozens of videos were found on the camera’s memory card.
Q: What is the legal strategy of Wasek’s attorney?
A: Wasek’s attorney, David Gonzalez, is arguing that the case involves the legal right to install cameras in one’s home and the ubiquitousness of video recording.
Q: What is the civil lawsuit alleging?
A: The civil lawsuit alleges that the two women were "lured into a house of horrors" and recorded "in their most vulnerable and exposed states."
