A man is in jail and will have to register as a sex offender when he is released after pleading guilty to filming up young girls’ skirts.
Bubba Bramlett, District Attorney for Madison and Rankin Counties, stated today that Satoshi Maehata, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of photographing a child under the age of 16 without consent when there was a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The court sentenced him to ten years on each count, which he will serve consecutively for a total of twenty years in jail. Upon his release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The Madison and Ridgeland police departments received multiple complaints about a man at Liberty Park and the Renaissance giving sweets to young girls in exchange for hugs. MPD investigators initiated surveillance at Liberty Park and discovered the individual who matched the suspect’s description. The suspect consented to a search of his car, where authorities discovered a small camera disguised as a pen, as well as assorted candies and munchies.
Investigators interviewed Maehata, who admitted to possessing indecent videos of minor girls on his computer. Officers carried out a forensic examination of the device, uncovering numerous recordings purporting to capture girls in their underwear at Liberty Park and Renaissance.
“The facts of this case are vile and unacceptable. Our daughters should not have to worry about someone filming under their skirts while they are at the local park or standing in line to get a smoothie,” said Bramlett. “Unfortunately, we must teach our children to always be vigilant of what is happening around them and to always report suspicious behavior. I want to thank the MPD and RPD investigators for their dedication to solving this case and ensuring this man will not be able to violate women in our community for a long time.”
