Computer Repairman Accused of Using Laptops to Spy on Showering Women at Christian College
- Posted on June 9, 2011 at 6:52am by
Scott Baker
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FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California computer repairman suspected of installing spyware on laptops that enabled him to snap and download photographs of women showering and undressing in their homes was arrested Wednesday at his home, police said.
Police began investigating when a Fullerton resident complained about suspicious messages appearing on his daughter’s computer last year. Trevor Harwell installed software that took control of computer webcams on his clients’ Mac laptops, Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said.
The software sent fake error messages telling users to “fix their internal sensor soon,“ and ”try putting your laptop near hot steam for several minutes to clean the sensor,” Goodrich said.
The error message prompted some victims to take their laptops into the bathroom with them when they showered, he said.
“Once he had access, he would take photographs of the users, usually women,” Goodrich said. “Often, the female victims were undressed or changing clothes. Harwell then stored the photos on a remote server, and eventually downloaded them on his own computer.”
Detectives seized hundreds of thousands of still images and videos from Harwell’s computer and identified several victims, Goodrich said.
Investigators believe Harwell, a technician for Rezitech Inc., may have exploited computers connected to Biola University’s internal network. Harwell, 20, is a former student at the La Mirada Christian college, where many of the victims attended.
Orange County Superior Court records show that Harwell faces 12 felony counts of computer access and fraud, The Orange County Register reported. It wasn’t known Wednesday evening if Harwell had obtained an attorney.
Editor’s note: I updated this story to clarify some of the points being raised in the comments. Some commenters questioned why the headline emphasized the “Christian college” angle. I made that decision primarily because I attended a Christian college and I tend to be interested in stories about them. I felt the aspect of a former student using his connection to the campus to victimize students to be compelling. I don’t think Christian colleges are necessarily that much different than secular campuses — but my experience has been that there is a greater level of trust among those in a Christian college community. The abuse of that trust, it seemed to me, added an deeper angle of interest.




















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Comments (156)
Redistributor
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:28amHave to label him as Christian? Why not just college student?
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:34amAre you afraid of tainting your precious religion?
If he was a Christian then so be it. Suck it up and admit Christians are no more moral than anyone else.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:42amLiberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Report Post »“If he was a Christian then so be it. Suck it up and admit Christians are no more moral than anyone else.”
You’re right but, we ARE forgiven.
Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:46amYes you are forgiven – I forgive you.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:48amHey LACT… Christians sin dumba$$. As does everyone. We need Christ because we know we’re sinners and accept the price The Son of Man paid to cover mine sins, yours, and everyone elses. I’m not sure why you think Christians think they are so moral. We’re not and know we need a redeemer. I’m not sure what your issue is, but think you need to so some critical thinking.
On the surface, you seem to be a really shallow individual.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:50am*my sins
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:52amMaybe on the surface, but underneath I’m very deep!
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:20amFanned, LACT!
Report Post »I Hear the Wolves
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 12:16pm@ Meyvn
Let me paraphrase what you just said:
“Hey LACT, you’re an idiot and Jesus loves you.”
Way to witness, brother. I’m confident that our liberal atheist friend is now that much closer to realizing “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Eph. 3:18b
Report Post »stereojoe
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 6:22pm@ Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Hey, where’d you go bro? Did you actually end up reading the article? If you did, you realized the criminal was not at all a student at the Christian college but rather victimized female students who attended the Christian college?
A+ on the critical thinking A++ on the critical reading
You’ll get there someday champ!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:23amHe should run for congress in New York!
Report Post »heavywx
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:15amWow smart enough to install a vnc but not smart enough to encrypt his hard drive. When your that stupid you deserve to get caught. And the steam thing is just way beyond dumb.
Report Post »BlazingInSC
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:15amHeadline correction time: “Computer Technician Accused of using Laptops to Spy on Showering Women”. He was not a student at the time of the incident, nor were his actions in any way related to his status as a former student. It would be perfectly fine to mention that he had victims at the Christian college he once attended, but the headline is very very very misleading. I don’t know why anymore, given the pure crap the Blaze has become, but I actually still do expect better. It’s time to really start thinking about moving on – GBTV won’t get my money if I can expect even one tenth of the crap that the Blaze has become.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:20am“He was not a student at the time of the incident”
You mean if you aren’t a student of Christianity at the exact time you do something creepy, it means you aren’t a Christian at all?
Where did you dream up that logic?
Report Post »I Hear the Wolves
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 12:12pmAnd yet, if the headline had been, “Computer Tech. at Uber Liberal University…” people would not be saying, “What does liberal have to do with anything?” They would be saying, “Just goes to show you…” Don’t get me wrong, I’m Christian and Conservative, but I am frustrated by the inconsistencies I see in people on all sides. Sometimes Christians are so thin-skinned. That is not how we are meant to be.
Report Post »GENEPAGLIARI
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:10am@liberal-atheist-critical-thinker
your smears are not living up to your name. Why are you so afraid of gbtv.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:17amAfraid of GBTV?
Afraid of Sarah Palin?
Why do you people think that liberals are “afraid” of the things we comment on?
I find that fascinating around here. I comment on things that interest me here, fright has nothing to do with it!
Hahahahaha. What a laugh you all are!
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:00am1 ) 257 special trade zone for communist china here in the us
http://www.morningliberty.com/2011/01/25/top-257-china-towns-chinese-trade-zones-invading-america/
2 ) TSA
3 ) Healthcare
4) Border Security
5) Illegal Aliens
6) Economy and unemployment
7 ) Four wars now
8) Police State USA
9) Federal Agency power grabs
on and on and on …..okay the guy is a creep but really ..on the scale of thing ..why is this news ?
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:03amIt’s a preview of what will be offered on the new GBTV network,
Only $9.95/month!
Report Post »NickyLouse
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:00amHow does a man who sinks to this level of depravity ever confess this sort of behavior to his future wife? Either that or live with his lie for the rest of his life.
When the lost son comes home, he must fall to his knees and beg forgiveness. Without knowing the love of Jesus, we could never look ourselves in the face after we realize our sin against the Father. Sin is pleasurable for a season, but the soul is eternal. We will all be raised – some to life and some to damnation (John5:29).
Report Post »GeeWhiz
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:00amYup. Plenty of kids go to religious schools because some of them have good reputations as being a place where you can get a good education. When my daughter was young in CA, I can‘t tell you how many mothers were considering sending their kids to parochial school because it’s a ‘private’ school for the aforementioned. And none of them were Catholic, and probably most were barely religious, if at all. Christian schools can oftentimes be more affordable, too.
As to the rest of the story, what a desperate jerk, raised by wolves. It’s one thing to be a guy that fantasizes about girls in showers…it’s quite another to actually violate their space to do that. Take that as a warning sign about him. Plenty of peeping Toms ‘escalatee’ to further behavior and THAT is the scariest part of this.
Parents, teach your young women to know that they’re targets and to take steps to protect themselves. This includes not having random ‘repairmen’ into your apartment, period. A very good argument as to why one should learn how to do these things yourselves. Never be or act like a helpless female. And no one really needs a ‘webcam’.
This comes from someone who spent their single years as a female in an urban environment. First rule, don’t set yourself up to be a victim.
Report Post »stereojoe
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:58amHe’s just as bad as passive-aggressivists who use blogs as a way to preaching hate and stupid ideas because they don’t have the cajones to actually say those things in public or when they do, no one listens.
Report Post »EnoughBS
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:44amMegaman icon?! awesome!!!
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:54amAh hahahahahaha. So much for Christian morality.
Oh I know – he must not have been a True Christian ™?
Bwahahahaha!
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:08am@ thinker you didnt read the other posts did you ? Before you respond to my post consider this ..I do not care at all what your point of view is ..I am way past the Political Correctness disease that has infected our Nation. …have a good day
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:13amI don‘t care that you don’t care what my point of view is.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:17amHa ha! I was posting similar observations before I saw your post LACT.
Report Post »stereojoe
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 6:31pm@ Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Hey, where’d you go bro? Did you actually end up reading the article? If you did, you realized the criminal was not at all a student at the Christian college but rather victimized female students who attended the Christian college?
A+ on the critical thinking A++ on the critical reading
You’ll get there someday champ!
Report Post »NickyLouse
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:50amA man has to ask himself in the midst of such depravity how he would ever confess this sort of behavior to his future wife. Either that or live with his lie for the rest of his life.
Report Post »Southernguy
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:47amNow that’s dumb. All he had to do was drill a hole in the wall, lmao
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:14am@ SOUTHERNGUY~~~ Me, too. That’s how the guys did it when we were young……….or stood outside our br windows and tried to peek in……………. ah, me, technology!
Report Post »Nick Pable with Buckshot
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 11:03am@dumbagrandma
Report Post »You told us in another post you only had a hose pipe for water when you were young – now you had a shower block. You said you were so poor you couldn’t afford windows let alone a wall to drill holes in. I suspect you’re really a sad person in a NY tower block who fantasises so that she can join in these discussions – or a troll trying to wind us up.
thinkhard64
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:42amSaying your a Christian is no more proof than me saying I’m an astronaut! If we are the keeper of our brither we will have fellowship with the light and our walk will show who we are. As a brother says to me “watch me” “Because I will watch you, to see if you areTRUE” Him being from a Christian college doesn’t make him a Christian, many people go to schools of faith for a better education and do not worship with the body.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:16amThat’s always the Christian claim when one of their own gets caught. “Well, they must not have been a true Christian!!!!” Yet many many religious leaders are involved in sex scandals constantly and are instantly forgiven by their flock. Nuts.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:40amI agree on the posts above ~~~ “mis-titling” stories ~~~ second time recently I’ve commented to you about this, BLAZE. Hmmmmm…
Just because a “kid” attends a CHRISTIAN school does not make him/her a CHRISTIAN.
Just because you stand in a shower doesn’t make you clean.
Just because you stand in a garage doesn’t make you a car.
Just because you sit in the oval office doesn’t make you a President!
There are sick people all around us. That’s no surprise. The wonder occurs when we act like Samaritans rather than the priest and businessman who passed on by…..
Let’s make a POSITIVE difference in our world today! YOU go, GOD, and help us expose more corruption, lies and deceit in this current administration, or in universities…..or in Congress….
Report Post »I Hear the Wolves
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 12:07pmUh, it was a Levite, not a business man. Just a little FYI. There’s a big difference.
By the way, THEY’RE always watching, and THEY don’t need spyware to control your webcams.
Report Post »jcannon98188
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 4:20pmWhat??? You mean a Levite is not someone who makes Levi Jeans?
Report Post »:P
Tickdog
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:25amyawn!!!
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:09amin the old days they just drilled a small hole in the wall……..
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:18amThey let a guy sending naked pictures of his “junk”, not being able to confirm the persons isn’t a minor, stay a U.S. Congressman, so how can you arrest this guy?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:42am@ TEDDRUNK~~~ Yes, Sir! Not to mention both Clintons dirty as a dry West Texas road in summer time…… Let’s see…. I believe we could do a roll call in Congress and oust most of the members on unethical, immoral behavior, could we not?
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:17amThis is disgusting !!!!! We are being tracked and Spyed on enough as it is.
Burnthills
Report Post »I think you are correct,,,,,,,,, I do not see how him being a FORMER Christian student is relevant at all.!!!! Where was he before he was in Christian College? Probably a Mental institution…..
idontgetit
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:24amI was wondering the same thing. Does the fact that he went to a Christian school make this any worse? The headline seems a little demagogic towards Christianity if you ask me.
Report Post »swampbuck
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:14amdid you know your iphone has the technology to take random pics of you…
Report Post »On The Bayou
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:10amHere`s a little known secret, if your laptop is open and the power is on you can be spied on by the government through your web-cam. Also your new flat sceen TV has a camera inside. New cars with the black box, on star, onboard video cameras that record your every move.
Report Post »Nick Pable with Buckshot
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:55amRight – remember, just because you‘re paranoid doesn’t mean they won’t get you.
Report Post »DHD
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:09amHe is a former student at a Christian college. So? It may be shocking for you to know, but not every Christian college student is a Christian. Do you know how many parents send their heathen kids to Christian college in hopes it will fix what they couldn’t? I understand the headline stuff. It made me read it too.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:13amI hear this a lot from Christians : Just because he went to a christian college, church, was a pastor etc. doesn‘t mean he’s a Christian. Christians come up with this same excuse anytime one of their own is caught red handed. If your statement were true, then after being forced to sit in the pews for the first 18 years of my life, I’d say about 95% of any given congregation isn’t Christian. Including pastors.
Report Post »Mohammed Is A Lie
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 2:21pm@Red1492
Report Post »Christians are just like everyone else except for the fact that we acknowledge the fact that there is a higher power that created us, lets us make our own decisions, loves us, and holds us accountable for the decisions that we make. Christians make mistakes too, believe me, but a true Christian will repent and accept consequences for his or her actions.
hifi74
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:04amAbsolutely sickening, if I ever found about something like this with my daughter the man would be begging that the cols take him into custody before i got finished
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:04amthe more we think about it the madder we are, he is a FORMER Christian college student so WHY is THAT about the CHRISTIAN college in the headline AT ALL… to smear Christian college students?
Report Post »swampbuck
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:15amDitto
Report Post »TTRR
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:25amDitto
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:32am.
Report Post »You nailed it…… Is it just me or do you think a Progressive has infiltrated the Blaze staff…..
ZAP
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:02amWonder if he`s related to Weiner
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:02amwake up Blaze.. who’s the HuffPo on your title writing 3rd shift. the creep is a FORMER student so don’t try to make out like he is a CHRISTIAN STUDENT
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 6:59amAt least he wasn‘t spying on dudes in the men’s showers.
Report Post »ISeeDanger.com
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:04amI think this was the guy that found Bin Laden too…
If you listen to a message that “steam” is needed to fix it, I can’t help you.
http://www.ISeeDanger.com
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:11amNot that what he did was ok, however. He’ll pay the price.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:28amWhat Burnthills said is correct:
“the more we think about it the madder we are, he is a FORMER Christian college student so WHY is THAT about the CHRISTIAN college in the headline AT ALL… to smear Christian college students?”
So, Blaze, WHY IS IT that “Christian” is a part of the headline? Is it just there for shock value? Is it there to appease the atheists and agnostics? Are former Christian college students the only ones doing this?
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:36am.
Report Post »Well he’s gonna be surprised when goes to jail and becomes a LapTop himself……..
GayDem4Beck
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:45amOh so glad to know that there is an acceptance in some crimes, as long as they aren’t this, that or gay. What happened to that simply being illegal and equal justice/punishment ? You’re just another male chauvinist pig, like this kid is. Don’t be fooled folks, religious people are no different than anyone else and they have faults too. They just think they are better than everyone else.
Report Post »SeasonOfReason
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:45amI have got to tell you. As an agnostic atheist, I feel very appeased.
Report Post »cstinem
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 7:56amWhy not the headline “Alleged Christian Ex-College Student”….
Report Post »Cedi
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:00am@ a season, there is no such thing as an agnostic atheist……………..you are one or the other brother. Take a stand.
Regarding the article, others are right……………..this is a headline taken directly from the huffpo. The guy is a dirtbag, put him in jail where he belongs.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:00amBoys will be Boys……. maybe he can run for senate
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:01amBOOOOOO!!!!!
Blaze, change headline or risk becoming the huffpo
Report Post »SeasonOfReason
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:12amAtheism is the rejection of theism. Agnosticism deals with knowledge and certitude. So one can very well be an agnostic atheist as well as an agnostic theist or a gnostic atheist or a gnostic theist.
Report Post »texasderek
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:26amSpankDaMonkey: Now that laptop pun was funny…. lol… still laughing
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:29amAnother example of our society in decline. This kind of stuff happens more and more each day. This video shows what’s going on in our society. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUA3iQjLH4g
Report Post »Bill me later
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:41am“Once he had access, he would take photographs of the users, usually women,” Reads like he has same male pics on his pc.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:46amSeason is correct.
Most of you have no clue what you are talking about when it comes to the words atheist and agnostic, but that’s no surprise around here.
Report Post »Ebbertron
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:52amIts an AP story…..I dont the The Blaze wrote the headline.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 8:58amNotice the headline “Christian College….”, didn’t notice “Jewish Congressman…..” just sayin
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 9:33amThe headline could also have read “ ex grade school student”
Report Post »bluegoldnationdotcom
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 9:37amI agree with the others. Is the Blaze now part of the Christian smear campaign? When you put Christian in the headline you are associating the crime with someone you are promoting as a Christian. You don’t think we get enough of this from the mainstream hacks?
I have been pretty taken back by the profit grabbing from Beck “The Blaze”, the goldline crap (though all seem to have the same sponsors), now GBTV, insider extreme. So what are you doing with all of these monies you are collecting in the name of all that should be right in America? You can do what you want, it is a free country but don’t expect me or others not to start questioning your motives.
Report Post »ITGuy
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 9:44amI hate to tell everyone but you don’t have to be a Christian to go to a Christian School. So for all of you that are somehow enjoying that a so called Christian did this, get off your high horse because attending a Christian college no more makes him a Christian than wearing a hotdog suite makes him a weiner. All though he is in fact a weiner.
Report Post »mullet
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 9:45am@Season. Agnostics believe (ironically) that the existance (or non-existance) of a deity cannot be known. Logically, you cannot say you cannot know something, and at the same time, say you can. Just saying.
Report Post »Hula Calhoun
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:05amRegarding remarks relating to the huffpo, the Blaze has become “Huffpo Lite.” The new CEO was formerly with the Huffpo. The other day on the radio Glenn remarked he was disappointed in that day’s headlines on the Blaze; maybe when GBTV premieres and the ex-Huffpo chick starts trying to tell him what nonsense he should be talking about he will realize why the Blaze is becoming irrelevent.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:08am“At least he wasn‘t spying on dudes in the men’s showers.”
Wow. Because that’s so much worse than spying on women.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:09ambiohazard23
So, Blaze, WHY IS IT that “Christian” is a part of the headline? Is it just there for shock value? Is it there to appease the atheists and agnostics? Are former Christian college students the only ones doing this?
———————
I agree with your sentiment, but atheists, agnostics, and even Christians expect more from. well, Christians.
Republicorp
Report Post »I understand there may be a New York House seat available soon.
JRook
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:18amProbably a follower of great preachers like Jim Baker or Jimmy Swaggart
Report Post »SeasonOfReason
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 10:29am@mullet
Report Post »Your logic is correct. However, atheism does not posit the non-existence of a god, it only rejects the theist position. By the way, I was just joking about being appeased. I agree that the title of the article is misleading and inaccurate.
grandmaof5
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 11:04amAnother creep bites the dust!
Report Post »Detah
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 11:07am@GAYDEM4BECK
Report Post »Let me get this straight: you want to state that discriminating against people based on is not ok, by stating that you discriminate against all religious people because of your unfounded bias? ok, cool. glad that’s cleared up.
Detah
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 11:16ampost correction
@GAYDEM4BECK
Let me get this straight: you want to state that discriminating against people based on “insert random minority group here” is not ok, by stating that you discriminate against all religious people because of your unfounded bias? ok, cool. glad that’s cleared up.
PS apparantly, theblaze strips anything with greaterthan/lessthan signs expecting it to be an html link. fyi, I did not include a link.
Report Post »VerySeniorCitizen
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 12:27pmI guess this ‘college’ never heard of Angie’s List!
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 2:17pmThis same kind of thing was the subject of an episode of “Criminal Minds” – a TV series that gives serial killers lots of good tips.
Report Post »jcannon98188
Posted on June 9, 2011 at 3:20pmThe guy is horrible. But this is social engineering at its finest. Who would fall for that? Again, not saying what this guy did is ok, just saying it is slightly humorous how he went about doing it.
Report Post »devilhasforktongue
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 9:08amWhat?? White man committing a crime and other white folks joking about it? Only 3 pages but 3 black men steal a bike and we are already at 5 comment pages?? Hmmm I wonder what’s going on with this world. Oh, I remember now…
Report Post »*************************
Posted on June 10, 2011 at 2:22pmAnother Weiner?
Report Post »