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District 64 custodian recorded employees in bathroom with phone, officials say

Editor's note: This story has been updated with corrected information about the defendant, the charges and aspects of the case.

A custodian used a cellphone to record two female staff members in a bathroom at Washington Elementary School in Park Ridge, officials said Friday.

No students were recorded.

Luis M. Rubio-Ortega, 37, of the 8800 block of North Washington Street in Niles, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two felony counts of unlawful video recording, authorities said.

If convicted, Rubio-Ortega faces between one and three years in prison on each charge, as well as fines.

A female teacher discovered the phone in a gender-neutral staff bathroom on May 27. It had been hidden in a trash can next to the stall and was recording, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said.

The teacher brought the phone to Principal Angela Brito, who contacted police.

"The district took immediate action on this matter and has cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation," Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 board President Denise Pearl said.

Police found a recording on the phone that showed Rubio-Ortega holding it with the camera facing him and then placing it in the garbage can, prosecutors said. The video went on to show a woman and the teacher who found the phone in the bathroom, separately.

While being interviewed by detectives Wednesday, Rubio-Orgega admitted placing the phone in the bathroom to record women, police said in a news release. No evidence of other recordings or other victims was found, said Tom Gadomski, the department's executive officer.

Rubio-Ortega's bail was set Thursday at $50,000. He is next scheduled to appear in a Skokie courtroom Sept. 1.

Rubio-Ortega has been a District 64 employee since 2016, a district spokesman said. He has been placed on administrative leave.

As a condition of his bail, Rubio-Ortega cannot contact the victims or the school.

Superintendent Eric Olson notified District 64 families of the arrest in an email Friday morning. He said the police investigation prevented the district from telling people about the case before Friday.

"We understand that this news is very concerning," Olson wrote. "Please know the safety and security of our students, staff, and schools is and will always be our top priority."

Olson encouraged people with questions or concerns to contact him.

Luis Rubio-Ortega
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