WILMINGTON, OH — A janitor at Wilmington College was arrested Tuesday after police say he hid in the ceiling above a locker room and photographed members of the women’s soccer team while they changed. Officers said the man, identified as Jayson Barker, was taken into custody after a student noticed someone taking pictures from overhead inside the Scheve Athletic Center.
Police charged Barker with 11 counts of voyeurism. Campus security held him until officers arrived, and jail records show he was initially held on $22,000 bail before later being released after posting bond. Investigators have not said how long he was in the ceiling or when the photos were taken.
Student spotted the suspected photographer above the Scheve Athletic Center locker room
The case began when a member of the women’s soccer team reportedly saw the suspected offender using a camera or phone from the ceiling space above the locker room. Police said the athlete noticed the photos being taken during a time when the team was changing, which led to the immediate response by campus security.
That response ended with Barker being detained at the scene until law enforcement arrived. Officials have not described the layout of the ceiling space, but the allegation centers on a hidden position directly over a private area used by student athletes.
The charges reflect multiple alleged acts rather than a single incident. Police have not released further details about how the images were recovered or whether any other people were affected.
Wilmington College ends contractor relationship after the arrest
Wilmington College said Barker worked for a vendor rather than as a direct employee of the school. In a statement, the college said it ended its relationship with the custodial services contractor after the arrest.
The school said its “paramount concern” is the safety and well-being of students. It also said it has been offering counseling and other support services to the affected students since Tuesday night.
College officials said they are also taking steps to make sure student safety and well-being are not compromised. The statement did not spell out those measures, but it indicated the school is treating the matter as a serious breach of trust.
Police are investigating whether there were earlier incidents
Investigators are now trying to determine whether Barker may have engaged in similar conduct before this arrest. Police said he could face additional charges depending on what they learn.
That part of the case remains open, and authorities have not said whether they are reviewing other locker room access points or any past complaints. The focus so far has been on the ceiling area above the women’s soccer locker room at the athletic center.
Police have also not said whether Barker admitted to the conduct. The case is being handled as an active criminal investigation, with potential additional evidence still under review.
Barker was released after posting bond and is due in court Oct. 5
After his arrest, Barker was booked into a nearby jail and initially held on $22,000 bail, according to police and jail officials. Those officials said he later posted bond and was released.
His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 5. At that hearing, the case is expected to begin moving through the local court system, though prosecutors have not yet announced whether more counts will be filed.
The voyeurism charges carry serious implications because they involve alleged secret recording in a private setting. For the college, the episode has already led to a contractor change, and for students, it has prompted added support services in the days after the arrest.
What the arrest means for the campus community
Wilmington College said it has been working to reassure students after the arrest and to address concerns about privacy in athletic spaces. The school’s response suggests the incident has prompted an internal review of how people move through and access sensitive areas on campus.
While officials have not described any broader security changes, the arrest highlights the vulnerability of locker room spaces when someone can gain access to concealed overhead areas. Police have not said whether the alleged conduct was limited to one day or one team event.
For now, the case centers on a single arrest, 11 counts of voyeurism, and the college’s effort to support students while investigators examine whether Barker’s conduct may have extended beyond the incident that led to Tuesday’s arrest.
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