Maintenance man hid camera, spied on residents at apartment complex, Warren County sheriff says

DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A maintenance worker at a Warren County apartment complex used a hidden camera to spy on at least five residents, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office.

Gerald "Jerry" D. Rowe, 65, of Milford, was arrested Thursday afternoon. He's charged with five counts of burglary and five counts of voyeurism. 

Rowe was employed at the Steeplechase apartments, where a resident told authorities she found a camera hidden in her bathroom vent Wednesday.

Detectives identified the other victims at the complex after an initial search of the camera's footage, according to the sheriff's office. All were women between 24 and 34 years old.

"He's a very nice man who all of the victims had a rapport and friendly relationship with, and they thought he was someone they could trust," Lt. John Faine said.

Rowe admitted to putting the camera in the woman's bathroom and helped identify the other women, Faine said.

Residents said Rowe was helpful and well-liked.

"He's really been an awesome guy -- if we have a problem, he's here in a minute," Andrea Overbeck said. "Everybody that you talk to here knows Jerry, loves Jerry. It's just hard to believe."

Jackie Sinclair, who has lived at Steeplechase for four years, said the allegations against Rowe never would have crossed her mind.

"You trust these people," Sinclair said, "and here someone's taken away that trust."

 Rowe waived his right to a preliminary hearing and is being held on $200,000 bond at 10 percent. A judge ordered him to have home monitoring if he makes bail and to stay out of Mason and Deerfield Township. His case will now be bound over to a grand jury.