San Jose: Sex offender allegedly took upskirt videos of women at shopping center
SAN JOSE — A registered sex offender has been arrested on suspicion of taking more than a dozen “upskirt” images and videos of unsuspecting women at a popular San Jose shopping center, and investigators suspect he might have done it elsewhere, according to San Jose police.
Officers in the SJPD Megan’s Law Unit, which enforces sex offender registration compliance, were alerted over the last month to a man seen using his smartphone to surreptitiously record video of women at stores in the Plant shopping center at Monterey Road and Curtner Avenue. The incidents occurred between April 1 and May 13, police said.
“He was stalking women when they were focused on shopping, and he had his phone in hand for when the women were leaning over,” Sgt. Enrique Garcia said. “He was targeting women wearing skirts and dresses.”
An ensuing investigation identified the man as 58-year-old San Jose resident James Rehmert, whom police identified as a registered sex offender in California. Rehmert, however, is not listed in the state Department of Justice’s public sex-offender database, suggesting that he was convicted of a misdemeanor sex offense, though details were not immediately available.
Wednesday, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Rehmert for 14 misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct. Rehmert was already in the Santa Clara County Main Jail for an unrelated offense, and police served him the warrant in custody.
Investigators are trying to get in contact with people who suspect they might have been victims, and who might be able to offer information to further corroborate the case. Garcia said police are exploring the possibility that Rehmert recorded similar videos images in other locations in the Bay Area.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Sgt. John Marfia at 408-277-4290 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP or at svcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.