Man believed to have violated acquaintance's privacy, 'Soul' with hidden camera

CARPINTERIA — A Carpinteria man was arrested Thursday on allegations of using a concealed electronic video device to record images of a 30-year-old female acquaintance.

Donald Lee Bedford, 54, reportedly placed a small video-and-sound camera on a bookshelf in the victim’s bedroom, behind a copy of “Chicken Soup For the Soul.”

When the victim spotted a small hole cut into the spine of the book, she discovered the camera inside pointing at her bed.

“Evidence gathered at the scene showed recordings of her in the bedroom with her boyfriend,” Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokesman Sugars told the media, adding that “the video was of a personal nature indicating intent on the part of the suspect to commit the felony.”

According to Sugars, Bedford was a personal friend of individuals in the victim’s family. Sugars further indicated in his release to the media that Bedford took advantage of his friendship with the family and gained access to the victim’s residence based upon that relationship.

On July 22, detectives from the sheriff’s substation in Carpinteria served a search warrant at Bedford’s nearby home, seizing computers, video cameras and other evidence supporting the victim’s allegations. Bedford is currently held in Santa Barbara County Jail on $20,000 bail.