By Travis Uresk
10/12/23
Vernal, Ut.
10/11/23
On 3/15/23, Uintah County Detectives responded to Dennis Judd's Law Firm at 497 South Vernal Ave on a report of sexual exploitation of a minor and voyeurism. Detectives spoke with the law office employees who had discovered numerous printed pornographic photos and two SD cards in an unlabeled file folder that had been left in a drawer with other office personnel files.
One employee stated she has worked as a legal assistant at Judd's Law Firm for approximately six months. On 3/15/23, she gave her coworker a change to her W-4. She went to the file form in her coworker's personnel file. She found a manila folder that contained numerous printed pornographic images and a separate white envelope that contained a MicroSD card.
While viewing the contents of one of the SD cards, the employees discovered digital video files that showed their employer, Dennis Judd, putting up a camera inside the employee's bathroom ceiling vent.
The videos on the SD card showed recordings of Judd's various female employees using the bathroom. Once the employees discovered that the recordings had been taken inside the bathroom, they attempted to look in the same location where the first video showed Judd installing the camera but found that the cameras had already been removed.
Also, a manila folder with one of the female's name on the label was found, which contained photos of her, holiday cards, gifts, copies of text messages between her and Judd, and several documents dated 2021.
The documents went into great detail about conversations between Judd and his employee. There were feelings of attraction to her, and several photos of her from Facebook and other social media sources, including one of her in a bikini. Another document noted detailed discussions between Judd and the female employee and his conclusions about her sex life, personal habits, and gynecologic history.
When the employee was informed of the findings, she admitted she had no previous knowledge of Judd's collection of information and comments about her, and she was clearly emotionally distressed.
Dennis Judd is being charged with:
COUNT 1: VOYEURISM, a Class A Misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-9- 702.7, as follows: On or about June 2021, in Uintah County, Utah, the defendant intentionally used a type of technology to secretly or surreptitiously record, by video, an individual for the purpose of viewing any portion of the individual’s body regarding which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy, whether or not that person is covered in clothing, without the knowledge or consent of the individual, and, under circumstances in which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
COUNT 2: VOYEURISM, a Class A Misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-9- 702.7, as follows: On or about June 2021, in Uintah County, Utah, the defendant intentionally used a type of technology to secretly or surreptitiously record, by video, an individual for the purpose of viewing any portion of the individual’s body regarding which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy, whether or not that person is covered in clothing, without the knowledge or consent of the individual, and, under circumstances in which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
COUNT 3 STALKING, a Class A Misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-106.5, as follows: On or about March 2023, in Uintah County, Utah, the defendant, intentionally or knowingly engaged in a course of conduct by monitoring, observing, photographing or surveilling a specific individual and knows or should know that the course of conduct would cause a reasonable person to fear for the individual’s own safety or the safety of a third individual or suffer emotional distress.
THIS INFORMATION IS BASED ON EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE FOLLOWING WITNESSES: Special Agent Smith with the Utah Attorney General's Office and the two female employees.
What is Voyeuristic Disorder?
Voyeuristic disorder is a paraphiliac disorder involving fantasies, urges, and non-consenting behaviors. Treatment is available.
A voyeuristic disorder can occur when someone experiences sexual arousal while watching unsuspecting people. The arousal occurs when they witness someone undressing, naked, or engaging in sexual activity.
Someone with voyeuristic traits might record the person they secretly watch to rewatch it later. Sometimes they’ll use binoculars and mirrors for a better view, too. Some people with voyeuristic traits honestly disclose their feelings, while others hide their paraphiliac interests.
The interest in watching other people doesn’t usually have anything to do with who is involved. Someone with voyeurism traits is interested in observing any unsuspecting person. The person or people getting watched are often in an area where they believe they have privacy.
Understanding the disorder can encourage you to get help if you experience symptoms. Likewise, it can help you urge a loved one into treatment if they exhibit any signs.
What is voyeurism?
A voyeuristic disorder is also called voyeurism, but they aren’t entirely the same. Someone with voyeurism might have urges and thoughts of watching an unsuspecting person. However, they don’t usually act on their impulses.
Voyeurism is necessary for a voyeuristic disorder diagnosis, but voyeurism alone isn’t enough. The person must act on their urges to receive a diagnosis.
What is voyeuristic disorder?
A voyeuristic disorder is a paraphiliacTrusted Source disorder involving continuous and intense sexual arousal when watching someone without their knowledge. It becomes a disorder when the person acts on their urges or allows fantasies to interfere with their ability to function. The person becomes consumed by their thoughts, and it can cause distress.
Research shows that voyeurism often develops during adolescence or early adulthood. It is also more common in men than women but can occur in both. Little is known about non-binary individuals and voyeuristic tendencies.
Being interested and having thoughts of watching someone without permission means you have voyeurism traits. However, it doesn’t become voyeuristic disorder until you act on your urges and violate privacy and the right to consent.
When you feel like you’re unable to control your urges, it could be that you’ve developed a voyeuristic disorder. It is a criminal offense and can result in a misdemeanor charge.
What voyeuristic disorder is not
For voyeurism to become a disorder, it requires that someone has an interest in watching others without their consent. If a person participates in a sex club where they can consensually watch others have sex, that is voyeurism but it is not a voyeuristic disorder.
Additionally, if someone undresses in front of you and you don’t avert your eyes, it’s not voyeurism. An opportunistic look at someone isn’t behavior to be concerned with. It only becomes voyeuristic behavior if it reoccurs and the urges intensify.
If you enjoy watching porn that involves voyeuristic behavior, that is also not cause for concern. If you can only become sexually aroused by watching voyeuristic scenes in porn, however, you may have a voyeuristic disorder.
How it differs from other sexual disorders
Understanding how voyeurism differ from other sexual disorders can help you understand the situation. It differs from other paraphilia, including:
Exhibitionism disorder: This disorder involves exposing genitals to others without consent.
Fetishistic disorder: This disorder involves attraction to inanimate objects or body parts not usually viewed sexually. Sexual arousal may not be possible without the fetish object.
Frotteuristic disorder: This disorder involves rubbing against someone or touching a person without consent, such as on a public bus. It can also include desiring a private sexual experience while in a public area.
Sexual masochism disorder: This disorder occurs when someone engages in or fantasizes about being bound, beaten, or made to suffer for sexual gratification, which then causes significant distress or trouble with daily functioning.
Sexual sadism disorder: This disorder involves inflicting pain, fear, or other physical and mental harm to gain sexual satisfaction. To be considered a disorder the act must either be non-consensual and/or cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Signs and symptoms of voyeuristic behavior
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) explains that voyeurism involves intense and recurrent sexual fantasies and urges. These fantasies and urges include observing someone without consent while the person is naked or engaging in sexual activity.
Voyeurism can cause distress and interfere with your ability to function at your job or perform daily tasks. Although it can disrupt your well-being, you may still feel like you can’t resist.
Someone engaging in voyeuristic urges might enter areas that are off-limits or illegal to view someone without detection. It might involve violating another person’s privacy in their home, a locker room, or in another private area. One example is peeping toms looking through windows without consent.
Other symptoms of a voyeuristic disorder include:
giving into voyeuristic urges when the other person doesn’t give consent
performing sexual acts on yourself while watching others
fantasies and impulses that cause social dysfunction
sexual desires interfere with occupational performance
photographing or filming someone without their consent
getting frustrated when you can’t give into your urges
feeling guilty after the behavior
lack of sexual arousal when not secretly watching others
Risk factors of voyeuristic disorder
Experts indicate that voyeuristic disorder is more common in men, although women can also experience symptoms. People with this disorder also tend to have fewer sisters and be the youngest in their families. Although voyeurs often have a good relationship with their parents, their parents tend to lack a healthy marriage.
Many people who develop voyeuristic traits believe they aren’t likely to engage in sexual activity. It can lead to them fantasizing and sometimes giving into the urge to watch other people without consent. They also experience sexual preoccupation before their symptoms begin.
The DSM-5 shows that risk factors also include:
childhood sexual abuse
substance misuse
hypersexuality
What causes voyeuristic disorder?
There isn’t a specific cause of a voyeuristic disorder, but the risk factors discussed above contribute to the situation. Sometimes it can stem from accidentally seeing someone naked or engaging in sexual activity. Once it occurs once, continuing to look reinforces the behavior.
How is voyeuristic disorder diagnosed?
For a diagnosis, the DSM-5 details that the person must have symptoms for at least six months. The person must also be at least 18-years-old because puberty can cause sexual curiosity and activity. After the person turns 18, it indicates a disorder and criminal behavior.
Another requirement for diagnosis is that the person acts on their urges or experiences significant distress or impairment because of them. A doctor or skilled psychologist can diagnose after examining you (often using tests, such as
the Rorschach ink blot test) and discussing your symptoms and sexual health history. A diagnosis usually doesn’t occur until the voyeur gets caught acting on their urges.
Treatment options for voyeurism
Getting help and treating a voyeuristic disorder is essential to preventing further sexual offenses. The sooner treatment begins, the higher the likelihood of avoiding harmful and illegal encounters.
For successful treatment, the person with a voyeuristic disorder must want to change. Once they’re ready and willing, recovery is very possible. Some treatment options include:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy: learning to control urges, change thinking negative thinking patterns, and find acceptable ways to experience gratification.
Psychodynamic therapy: using therapy to understand the cause of voyeuristic behavior, allowing the opportunity to overcome past trauma.
Other ways to treat or ease the disorder include:
medication
learning coping strategies
attending support groups
Voyeurs might not admit they have a problem, but loved ones can help encourage someone with voyeuristic traits to seek help. They can learn socially appropriate behaviors, including respecting privacy. Another option is to avoid areas that trigger an urge to engage in voyeurism.
