Holley, N.Y. - The photos are sometimes blurry and often shot without heads or faces. Now police in Holley,
Orleans County are trying to determine the identities of as many as 40 victims.
“Right now we have two but need other people to come forward,” says Chief Bill Murphy.
The victims are all female and likely did not know they were being photographed in the hallway or classroom. The photos were also likely taken in August and September of last year.
The teacher was Joshua Weatherall, who is popular and well liked by students. Until one of them allegedly saw him with his cell phone camera angled up toward the underside of a desk where another student sat.
“He kind of had it at an angle and took a picture with it,” the student told police. He is not being identified because of his age. Court papers indicate the photo focused under the black mini skirt of a female student who was not aware it was being taken.
Another witness: “It also appeared to me Mr. Weatherall was trying to hide what he was doing.”
Those students and one other went to the principal’s office and the district then called police. Their investigation also turned up another photo of a partially clothed student which they allege Weatherall stole from her personal cell phone.
“He confiscated some of the students' cell phones during class time, and took photos off their phones and sent them to his phone,” says Chief Murphy indicating as many as five photos were stolen in this manner.
“I never gave Mr. Weatherall or anyone else permission to view, access, possess or send or receive this photo,” the student told police. “I feel extremely violated.”
Weatherall resigned from his position. He has been charged with computer trespass, eavesdropping and unlawful surveillance.
He did not answer the door of his Brockport home Monday, February 6. Police executed a search warrant there and seized a computer and other electronic devices, which were turned over to the FBI.
Authorities have since recovered 40 photos and now want to hear from students about what they might have seen in class or the hallway. “Come forward and let it be known to us when these photos took place and we might be able to identify the students in the photos,” says Chief Murphy.
