Joshua Gaines (OPD)

Florida Man Arrested In Ocala Walmart For Filming Young Girls In Back-To-School Section

Joshua Gaines (OPD)
Joshua Gaines (OPD)

OCALA, Fla. – Ocala police arrested 32-year-old Joshua Gaines at a Walmart on SW 19th Avenue Rd. for secretly recording young female customers, particularly in the back-to-school section of the store.

Security footage revealed that Gaines used a concealed camera inside a black bag to capture inappropriate videos of children, specifically focusing on their private areas.

Read: Ocala Man Indicted On Federal Charges For Attempted Enticement Of A Minor

Gaines had previously been banned from the Walmart in August 2023 for a similar incident involving the recording of young girls.

Despite knowing he was trespassing, Gaines returned to the store, where Walmart’s Asset Protection Investigator recognized him and alerted the Ocala Police Department.

OPD Officer D. Barry responded to the call at Walmart on August 9 at 7:45 pm and apprehended Gaines inside the store. A subsequent investigation, led by OPD Corporal Camacho, revealed that Gaines was in possession of a GoPro camera and two cell phones.

Read: DOJ: Ocala Gang Member Sentenced To 20 Months For Felon In Possession of Firearm

After executing multiple search warrants, authorities discovered numerous files of child pornography, with victims as young as six years old. Gaines now faces 10 counts of digital voyeurism and 403 counts of possession of child pornography.

The Ocala Police Department commended the swift action of their officers and Walmart’s Asset Protection Investigator for helping prevent further harm to the community.

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