GYM EMPLOYEE WITH PENDING GANG CASE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO SECRETLY VIDEOTAPE WOMEN BY CONCEALING VIDEO CAMERA IN LOCKER ROOM

GYM EMPLOYEE WITH PENDING GANG CASE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO SECRETLY VIDEOTAPE WOMEN BY CONCEALING

VIDEO CAMERA IN LOCKER ROOM

SANTA ANA – A gym employee has been charged with attempting to surreptitiously videotape women in a gym locker room by setting up a camera concealed in a plant pot.  David Emanuel Ramos, 22, Lake Forest, has been charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for secretly filming another and faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail if convicted on that count. The defendant also has an unrelated open criminal case with two gang member co-defendants (Case #08HF0586) for aggravated assault, grand theft, and street terrorism with gang enhancements. He faces a maximum sentence of nine years and four months in state prison if convicted and is out of custody on $25,000 bail in that case. The People will be requesting an additional $25,000 bail at Ramos’ arraignment on the new charge tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. The Department is to be determined.

Secret Recording Case

On Aug. 18, 2009, Ramos is accused of entering the women’s locker room at Synergy Performance Health and Fitness Center in Lake Forest during his shift as a front counter employee. The defendant is accused of attempting to set up a video camera in a potted plant with the intention of recording women in the locker room without their knowledge. He is accused of attempting to conceal the camera by hiding it under a newspaper in the plant pot. Ramos is accused of looking into the camera numerous times to position it for a better view, capturing himself on video in the process.

While Ramos was still setting up the camera, victim Jane Doe entered the locker room after working out and observed the defendant crouched over the plant pot. Ramos is accused of quickly standing up and exiting the women’s locker room. The victim checked the plant pot and discovered the camera, which was later turned in to the police.

Gang Assault Case (Case# 08HF0586)

Ramos is accused of being a member of a Hispanic criminal street gang. On March 23, 2008, Ramos, two gang member co-defendants, and a fourth unidentified male are accused of pulling up in a Lake Forest apartment complex next to John Doe. They are accused of asking the victim where he was from and throwing gang hand signs. John Doe got out of his car, where he had been sitting with a male and female friend, and attempted to run to his apartment.

Ramos and his co-defendants are accused of chasing John Doe and attacking him. Two defendants are accused of hitting the victim with golf clubs and one is accused of using a baseball bat. John Doe is not associated with any gang. The victim was able to escape into his apartment. Shortly thereafter, John Doe’s friends ran to the apartment to avoid also being attacked by the defendants, leaving their car unlocked.