Local man repeatedly arrested for voyeurism, Local 12 investigation may prompt new law

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - An Ohio legislator considered changing the law after a local man was arrested for a remarkable ninth time for charges related to voyeurism.

Reporter David Winter alerted State Representative Cecil Thomas after Local 12 reported on Kevin Ayers. Ayers was just arrested, again.

Voyeurism, like most non-contact sexual offenses with adult victims, are misdemeanors. There is no provision in Ohio law for bumping up the offenses to felonies in the case of multiple offenses, yet.

Ayers latest arrest happened in March for allegedly entering a woman's room at an assisted living facility in Anderson Township and watching her while she slept.

But this is far from his first offense. Two years ago, Ayers got a 30-day sentence in Butler County after he was caught on a surveillance camera looking into windows in Liberty Township. And there were other charges, six non-contact sexual offenses dating back to 2012.

In Ohio, the punishment for voyeurism with an adult victim is capped at 90 days. If the victim is a minor, it can be a felony. Ayers has only been jailed for crimes involving adults and has gone through treatment.

Local 12 asked Scott McVey, executive director of River City Correctional Center, if someone would reoffends 6, 7, 8,9 times are still fixable.

“I would tell you that they are,” said McVey.

River City Correctional Center is where sexual offenders, among others, get treatment so they won't reoffend.

They attend 55 sessions over six months. McVey said what these sessions focus on.

“Of, how did I put myself into this situation? How do I avoid these situations? What triggers me,” said McVey. “And then setting goals to avoid those in the future.”

Local 12 asked if they don't expect to see people discharged from one of these intensive programs again.

“Yeah,” said McVey. “We expect not to. That doesn’t mean that we won’t. People will re-offend.”

Studies have shown only 25% of non-contact sexual offenders reoffend and only 5 to 10% of them escalate to contact, sexual offending.

But for those who do, State Representative Thomas said there should be a law.

“Clearly the system is failing the people,” said Thomas when asked for his thoughts on when someone gets repeatedly arrested for same misdemeanor.

"If the sentencing structure is not having the impact, which it's obviously not, then we may want to think about increasing the penalty for that kind of offense," said Thomas.

Local 12 asked if he would sponsor legislation to fix this.

“Absolutely,” said Thomas. “Now that you have brought it to my attention, I am very concerned.”

Local 12 will follow up with Thomas to see if he does in fact pursue a bill that would increase penalties for repeat, non-contact, sexual offenses.

Ayers is currently out on bond awaiting his next court date on this latest offense in Hamilton County.