'Prolific' Peeping Tom Arrested

A 22-year-old Tustin man suspected of spying into several Orange County homes—including residences in Mission Viejo—pleaded not guilty today to peeping and burglary.   

Joseph Robert Rodriguez, who will turn 23 on Tuesday, was arrested at about 10 p.m. Wednesday in the 13900 block of Tustin East Drive, Tustin police Sgt. Duane Havourd said.   

Rodriguez was caught lying on a balcony wearing a bathrobe, apparently trying to hide, Havourd said.   

Tustin police were responding to a call of someone peering through the windows of apartments, Havourd said. 

"We had a couple of other calls of peepers in the area," Havourd said, adding that Rodriguez appears to be a "prolific peeper," who allegedly told investigators he peered into windows in Santa Ana and Mission Viejo.   

"It seems like he's been all over the place doing it for a long time," Havourd said. "We're quite sure there are other people out there who just didn't call us."  

Rodriguez was accused of masturbating while watching women through the windows of their homes, Havourd said.   

On Dec. 8, he allegedly broke into a home as the woman who lived there was walking her dog, Havourd said. According to Havourd, when the woman returned, she saw Rodriguezstanding in the living room holding two shoes and a bra. Rodriguez ran away after telling the woman he had masturbated in her apartment, Havourd said.   

Anyone with information about Rodriguez was asked to call police at (714) 573-3250.   

Rodriguez was charged with first-degree burglary, a felony, and six misdemeanor counts of peeking into an inhabited building, according to court records.   

His bail was set at $50,000 and he was ordered to return to court for a pretrial hearing April 30.

--City News Service