Sheriff ’s worker faces charge for hidden camera
An Orange County Sheriff’s Office employee hid a camera in the air vent of his roommate’s bedroom, authorities said Saturday.
Communications Specialist Llewellyn Berkheiser III, 28, was charged with one count of video voyeurism after his roommate told deputies she discovered a GoPro camera in the vent of her bedroom. Berkheiser was taken to the Orange County Jail and released on $1,000 bond on Saturday evening.
Berkheiser was hired in June 2018 and was relieved without pay after his arrest. The sheriff ’s office said they have opened an internal investigation into Berkheiser.
Berkheiser’s roommate, whose name was not released, told deputies she found the camera on Friday when she noticed light that usually comes through the vent from an adjacent kitchen wasn’t visible.
According to a report, Berkheiser told her there was a worker from their apartment complex in their home who possibly installed the camera. But when the roommate checked, there had been no worker in their apartment since March, states the report, which has several paragraphs redacted.
Deputies came to the apartment early Saturday after the roommate called to report what she found.
The report mentions a friend of Berkheiser, who was interviewed about the camera. The friend said Berkheiser “did not mention he suspected (name redacted) was stealing from him,” but because of a blacked-out portion, it is not clear if Berkheiser told deputies that was the reason for the camera or if he suspected his roommate of theft.
The arrest report says Berkheiser admitted placing the camera in the vent.
Deputies took the GoPro as well as Berkhesier’s cellphone and laptop.
“All Orange County Sheriff’s Office personnel are held to the highest standards of conduct,” said Sheriff John Mina in an email. “These allegations will be thoroughly investigated and the results of that investigation will be made public.”