U-M window peeper faces federal child porn charges
A man serving prison time for a string of window peeping incidents on and near the University of Michigan campus is facing federal charges after investigators say they found more than 10,000 images of suspected child porn on hard drives he owned.
Christopher Reckinger Filipek, 31, formerly of Plymouth, was charged Thursday in a federal criminal complaint with possession of child pornography.
Filipek
Authorities say Filipek looked into the windows of at least three women in November 2010 on and near the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor while he was masturbating. Two incidents occurred in the Oxford Housing area.
On Jan. 14, 2011, while under surveillance, Filipek was arrested by U-M and Ann Arbor police detectives near East University Avenue, where they saw him prowling, federal court records say. He had a "cell phone and three bottles of hand lotion" with him, according to an affidavit by U.S. Secret Service Agent Kevin Nowakowski.
Detectives executed a search warrant on his cell phone and found numerous videos of peeping incidents, the affidavit says. The videos were shot from the outside of buildings and showed "women in different stages of getting dressed and undressed."
One video was shot from inside a car of a woman in a store window display dressing and adjusting mannequins. Filipek's voice can be heard on the video, the affidavit says, questioning whether he should "tap on the glass" and start masturbating.
Investigators also executed search warrants on two occasions at his home and recovered a total of 10,862 images of suspected child porn, records show.
Filipek is at Kinross Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, serving a minimum of five years and 10 months in prison after being convicted in Washtenaw County Circuit Court of aggravated indecent exposure, indecent exposure by a sexually delinquent person and five counts of capturing/distributing an image of an unclothed person.
It's unclear when he will make an initial appearance in federal court.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 4:40 p.m.
Wondering: how long will it be before we see the report on the examination of a computer belonging to an accused Ann Arbor pediatrician? Seriously, though clearly yet to be determined, that "neighborhood scandal" might end up with the feds involved - IF - compromising images of children are found on that hard drive. Also wondering: if this case against Mr. Filipek is just the tip of the iceberg. I mean of course, sex offenders DO take measures to conceal their activities and avoid detection and/or prosecution. Mr. Filipek was an "easy bust" - apparently because he seems too obsessed to take such precautions. Are there official sources which give an estimated number of this kind of criminal?
Hmm
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 8:55 p.m.
Three bottles of hand lotion!?!
smokeblwr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 9:10 p.m.
I know! THREE!!!
bunnyabbot
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
I feel sorry for the investigators, the ones that have to look through the computers to look for evidence. I imagine it can be traumatic/distrubing/sickening to the highest degree. at anyrate, this "peeper" was prolific, hope he never gets out of prison
bunnyabbot
Sat, Jan 21, 2012 : 5:15 a.m.
no, either does Rod Johnsons "moral panic" comment. Apparently people out there think that possesing child porn is a victimless crime? nevermind than that out there some kid was abused to take a photo so that someone could look at it privately in thier own home while they masturbate. Some of those kids could have been abducted, maybe for one photo or maybe they were taken by someone that was close to them, thier mom or dad or their babysitter, or maybe those kids live in a hell everyday being abused, photographed in exchange with time to play with a doll or for a piece of candy. Maybe they grow up to abuse drugs or prostitute or maybe they go to Michigan and sign up on the SugarBabies websie, maybe one day they become parents and have zero parenting skills because they only know what messed up is.
justcurious
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
Does Newsboy's comment surprise you then.
Fatkitty
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
Hmmmm - 3 bottles of hand lotion..... Bahama Fizz, Pink Chiffon and Creamy Coconut.....
Diane
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
What is so interesting on a childs body? Those people are SICK.
newsboy
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
Prison for masturbating, suspected child porn and window peeping? What happened to the good old days when men where men? Real criminals would laugh you out of prison with this one. No worry's; with a stint in the joint and a felony on his record, he'll be better trained for rape, robbery, assault and murder in no time flat!
Rod Johnson
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 10:57 p.m.
@justcurious: isn't it possible to have a more nuanced view of the question than the current moral panic about child porn allows?
justcurious
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 5:20 p.m.
Did I read your comment right? You don't think he deserves prison for possessing child porn? And 10 other people agree with you. Unbelievable.
smokeblwr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Also, an undressing mannequin? Holy smokes that's weird!
smokeblwr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
THREE bottles of hand lotion? So is this like the free sample size or the large 20oz size?
smokeblwr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
I just keep thinking: "How long must it take?"
ViSHa
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
I just keep thinking "put the lotion in the basket". weird.
RJA
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 6 a.m.
Christopher doesn't look like this type of guy, but you just never know. Truly a sad case, but glad he is off the streets.
justcurious
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 11:46 a.m.
What does "this type of guy" look like? Unfortunately, he looks like your neighbor, your doctor, your workmate, your mailman.....even your friend. That's the problem.
Roadman
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:41 a.m.
How much time does he face on the federal charges? Can you give a sentencing range?
nickcarraweigh
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 3:34 a.m.
Wow, 10,862 images. Who counted them?
JS
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
@halflight- Jeez, that's got to be a terrible job. How exactly do authorities determine whether the photos are of children? It would be easy to identify a very young child, but without knowing the identity of the person in the photo, how is a police officer going to tell the difference between a 16 year old and an 18 year old?
smokeblwr
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
Indeed. Seems that would make quite a mess.
pbspirit
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 5:41 a.m.
And while we're digesting the numbers -- how about THREE bottles of lotion? That's a lot of lotion for one night on the town!
Daniel
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:30 a.m.
The pictures were likely all in one folder. The number of files in the folder can be seen be "Selecting All", which will then show you a number.
halflight
Fri, Jan 20, 2012 : 4:20 a.m.
Not only do you have to count the photos, you have to determine whether the subject of each of them was a child. Yecch.