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Man accused of spying on women in gas station restrooms caught

By MONA NAIR
6 News Reporter

WHITE PINE (WATE) – A man accused of taking pictures of women in a gas station restroom has been caught.

Police say David Ray Light, 60, has admitted to hiding in the stalls and taking photos of women at the Pilot Travel Center in White Pine in Jefferson County.

He told officers he’s also taken photos of women at gas station restrooms in Virginia and North Carolina.

Police aren’t sure exactly how many women were targeted in all.

“He had approximately 60 photographs of females in the act of using the restroom. There’s no telling how many times he’s done this,” said Sgt. Paul Lowe with the White Pine Police Department.

In surveillance video from Friday morning, you see a woman coming out of the restroom at the Pilot with her hand over her mouth.

Then you see Light coming out of the ladies toilet behind her. Investigators believe he was hiding in the toilet stalls for three hours that day, taking photos.

Police say the lady in that surveillance video was the one who alerted police, leading to his picture being sent to the media. Someone recognized Light’s face, which is how he was arrested.

Records show David Light is registered in Tennessee as a violent sex offender. His offenses include attempted rape and sexual battery in 1993.

Officers say he was quick to admit he has a sickness. “He said that he liked to take pictures of females,” said Sgt. Lowe.

When police searched Light’s home, they found two cell phones. Light told police he used one for his personal phone calls and another exclusively to take photos of women at public restrooms in Tennessee as well as other states.

“The others are from Virginia and North Carolina. He didn’t give me a town or a store, just Virginia and North Carolina,” said Sgt. Lowe.

None of photos reveal the identity of the women though. “No faces, just tops of heads, back and backsides,” said Sgt. Lowe.

While many of the victims may never find out they were photographed in the restroom, officers say it’s a lesson on being aware of your surroundings, no matter how private you think a space might be.

Light told police he had tried to get help for his sickness from local churches. He’s now at the Jefferson County Jail on two county of unlawful photographing that invades privacy.