Former DECC security guard charged for recording teen girl and sexual harassment

A now former security guard at the DECC is facing felony charges for recording a 17-year-old girl who was using private DECC facilities to exercise, along with another sexual harassment incident.

62-year-old Perry Michael Burke is charged with aggravated sexual harassment of a minor, a privacy violation of a minor, and three privacy violations using a device.

The aggravated sexual harassment and privacy violation of a minor are felony level charges, and the three privacy violations using a device are gross misdemeanors.

According to the criminal complaint, Burke was caught watching and recording the 17-year-old exercise in the gym space at the DECC. Documents say the girl saw Burke watching her and requested an escort to her car for safety. A later examination of Burke’s phone found pictures and videos of the juvenile victim at the gym.

During an interview with Burke, he admitted to taking pictures and videos. Surveillance footage also shows Burke performing sexual acts on himself while she was using the DECC facilities.

Authorities learned that Burke had recorded the victim multiple times, as well as videos of other young women. Police found multiple videos on Burke’s phone over a broader time frame. Other women involved are identified as Burke’s neighbors.

In a statement the DECC’s Director of Communications says, “Mr. Burke is no longer employed with the DECC. While I can’t comment on him in particular as there is an open investigation, I will say broadly when the DECC hires security personnel they undergo an FBI background check.”