Man facing video voyeurism charges after allegedly photographing 13-year-old on cruise ship

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A 25-year-old Illinois man was taken into custody Sunday on video voyeurism charges.

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The incident occurred aboard the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas on Sunday, May 31.

According to deputies, Matthew Stilwell of Pawnee, Illinois attempted to photograph the 13-year-old victim under her dress while the two were in one of the ship’s gift shops.

The girl noticed what Stilwell was doing and ran to her mother to report the incident, deputies said.

Authorities said the victim told them that while she was browsing jewelry, Stilwell was “standing unusually close behind her with the camera application open on his cellphone,” according to an arrest form.

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This happened three times before the victim ran away to report the incident, deputies said.

When the ship returned to Port Everglades on Sunday, June 7, deputies boarded and were presented with surveillance video corroborating the girl’s story.

Deputies then spoke to Stilwell, but his alleged confession was redacted from his arrest form.

As of Tuesday evening, he was being held behind bars at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on a $22,500.

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