LOS ANGELES — Detectives found 180 videos Wednesday taken from a former Hooters restaurant manager that show job applicants undressing, West Covina police said.
The women, ages 17 to 25, were apparently applying for jobs at a restaurant scheduled to open in West Covina in April, detectives said. The women were asked to step into a trailer at the rear of the restaurant site and change into Hooters uniforms, police said.
"People here were shocked," said detective Lt. Mark Dettor. "None of us suspected we would find that many videos, and we are dealing with victims who are shocked and feel betrayed."
Detectives were contacting 82 women they have identified so far who might be on the digital videos.
Police were notified of possible video recording at the end of January when two young women independently filed police reports saying they believed they were secretly recorded during their interviews. One woman said she saw a camera that she believed was turned on while changing her clothes in the trailer.
On Feb. 24, police served a search warrant on the trailer and the home of the Hooters general manager at the time, Juan Aponte. Computers were taken from the home and the trailer, and forensic experts eventually recovered the videos on the computer from the trailer.
Aponte no longer works for the company, said Justin Johl, an attorney representing Hooters. Johl would not disclose whether Aponte was fired or quit. Johl said the franchise was shocked and outraged over the discovery. West Covina Police Chief Frank Wills said Hooters cooperated fully with the investigation.
Aponte, 32, has not been arrested. Police said they will present their information soon to the district attorney.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
