Mesa police need assistance as detectives continue pursuing a voyeurism case in which they say a suspect has been recording juveniles inside their home bathrooms.

On Feb. 10, officers responded to a call at about 10:20 p.m. after a suspicious person was spotted in the 3000 block of South Massey. The person making the call stated they believed someone had been recording their juvenile family member in a bathroom from outside the home while she was preparing to shower, according to a Mesa Police Department release.

The caller also reported seeing a man, later identified as 42-year-old Erik Contos, in the fenced backyard of the home.

Detectives served a search warrant on Feb. 16 and seized Contos’ cell phone.

“A forensic review of the device revealed multiple images of three individuals connected to the reporting party. Investigators determined that several of the images were taken from outside the residence, through a bathroom window,” the release stated, adding some of the images depicted the individuals clothed, while others showed partial nudity.

“All of the images appear to have been captured from outside the home without the victims’ knowledge.”

Detectives determined Contos would have had to enter the fenced backyard to obtain the images, police said. He was arrested and booked on charges including burglary, eight counts of surreptitious photographing and nine counts of voyeurism. He was later released on a $75,000 cash bond, police said.

The investigation continued, and police said detectives identified additional images possessed by Contos. One image depicted two juvenile females inside a bathroom and appeared to have been taken from outside the home through a window.

One of the juveniles was identified as a previously known victim, and the second was also later identified. Investigators also located two additional images believed to depict other victims, however, those individuals have not yet been identified.

Contos was rearrested on March 6 on additional charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor and an additional count of surreptitious photographing, the release stated.

The Mesa Police Department is seeking assistance in identifying the two victims seen in photographs. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 or email Detective Christopher at p17194@mesaaz.gov. 

Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call Silent Witness at (480) WITNESS.

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