Fullerton man charged with spying on women by computer
Trevor Harwell
FULLERTON, Calif.—A 20-year-old computer technician from Fullerton was arrested today on charges of implanting spyware on dozens of computers to secretly watch the owners via webcams.
Trevor Timothy Harwell is charged with a dozen counts of illegal computer access and fraud, according to Orange County Superior Court records.
Harwell was arrested at his home today, Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said. While working for Rezitech Inc., Harwell visited the homes of customers with Macintosh computers to service them, he said.
“While he had physical access to the computers, he would install a spyware-type application that allowed him remote access to the user’s computer and webcam,” Goodrich said, adding Harwell also worked on the computers of friends.
“Once he had access, he would take photographs of the users, usually women,” Goodrich said.
“Often, the female victims were undressed or changing clothes.”
Harwell stored the pictures on a remote server and eventually downloaded them to his own computer, Goodrich said.
Harwell allegedly collected hundreds of thousands of images. Court records indicate the crimes date to June 2009.
According to Goodrich, a Fullerton man told police last summer when his daughter’s computer started displaying suspicious messages such as: “You should fix your internal sensor soon. If unsure what to do, try putting your laptop near hot steam for several minutes to clean the sensor.”
Responding to the message, many victims took their laptops into the bathroom while taking a shower, Goodrich said.
Harwell worked on computers in Los Angeles and Orange counties, where there are multiple victims, Goodrich said.
Investigators seized images, video and cell phone video of women allegedly taken by Harwell and stored on his computer, Goodrich said.
Many of the victims attend Biola University, a private Christian school in La Mirada, where Harwell took classes, Goodrich said, adding that he no longer enrolled there.
Harwell also is accused of installing a spyware program on the hard drives of computers connected to Biola University’s network, Goodrich said.
SANTA ANA (CNS) - Two Fullerton police officers were charged today in connection with the death of a schizophrenic homeless man who was left hospitalized after his violent July 5 arrest by six officers and taken off life support five days later.
Officer Manuel Ramos has been charged with second-degree murder and
involuntary manslaughter, while Officer Jay Cicinelli was charged with
involuntary manslaughter and use of excessive force, according to the District
Attorney's office.
SIGNAL HILL, Calif.—A man arrested for sneaking into a Signal Hill home and getting into bed with a 10-year-old girl was identified today as a 24-year-old Whittier man.
Sergio Osuna, who apparently was drunk, was arrested at a home in the 1900 block of Cherry Avenue about 2:20 a.m. Sunday—wearing only boxers, according to police spokeswoman Crista Martinez. He was booked on suspicion of burglary and child annoyance, she said.
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Former NFL receiver Titus Young remained in jail today for suspicion of breaking into a San Clemente home, his third arrest in a week.
This time, the 23-year-old ex-St. Louis Ram was arrested about 11:30 p.m. Friday in the 3700 block of Calle Casino, where Young fled on foot when officers arrived.
One of the emergency responders at last month’s deadly Texas fertilizer plant explosion is now charged with possessing materials for a pipe bomb, a court document states.
Authorities on Friday said they are launching a criminal investigation into last month’s blast in the town of West, but have not said if the arrest of Bryce Reed is connected.
Local sheriff’s deputies were called on Tuesday to a residence where they found components for a pipe bomb, according to a criminal complaint affidavit.
More than 1,500 people—mostly students and community residents—attended a forum on the USC campus Tuesday night to voice concern about recent actions by law enforcement officials where African Americans feel they were racially profiled.
The forum followed a sit-in at the Tommy Trojan statue Monday by USC students upset about how police shut down two parties early Sunday, and arrested six students.
