A 32-year-old Ocala man accused of using a hidden camera to film young girls at a local Walmart and possessing hundreds of files depicting child pornography is set to go on trial in November.
Joshua Gaines has been charged with 10 counts of digital voyeurism and more than 400 counts of possession of child pornography. During an arraignment hearing that was held last week, Marion County Judge Matthew Peter Brigham scheduled jury selection to begin on Monday, November 18.
Gaines entered a written plea of “not guilty” on Friday, August 16. The numerous charges against him stem from an incident that occurred a week earlier.
On Friday, August 9, at around 7:45 p.m., Ocala Police Department officers responded to the Walmart located at 2600 SW 19th Avenue Road in reference to a man who was allegedly caught secretly recording young girls in the store, according to OPD.
The police department stated that the store’s video surveillance footage showed the male suspect, identified as Joshua Gaines, pretending to shop while using a concealed camera located inside a small black bag to “capture video of children, especially those wearing tight or revealing clothing.”
According to OPD, Gaines was primarily in the back-to-school section of the store when he allegedly aimed the camera to capture video footage of the children’s “private areas.” During this time, many young girls were in the area.
In August of 2023, Gaines was trespassed from Walmart after allegedly being caught secretly recording young girls in the store. “(Gaines) knew he was not allowed to return to the location,” stated OPD in a social media post.
On August 9, 2024, the store’s asset protection investigator spotted Gaines on the premises and recognized him. The investigator told officers that Gaines was “showing the same suspicious behavior.”
An OPD officer made contact with Gaines in the store and placed him under arrest for trespassing. An investigation into the incident was launched, and the police department seized a GoPro camera and two cellphones that were in Gaines’ possession.
After multiple search warrants were obtained, detectives searched Gaines’ electronic devices and allegedly discovered hundreds of images depicting child pornography. The children shown on the images were as young as six years old, according to OPD.
Following his arrest, Gaines was transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on bond as he awaits his upcoming trial.
Prior to jury selection, a pre-trial conference will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, according to court records.