20-069 Detectives Arrest Palm Harbor Man For 10 Counts of Video Voyeurism
Video Voyeurism Arrest
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Crimes Against Children Unit
Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
Thomas John Kovack (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 4/07/1980
Address: 1020 Palmer Lane, Palm Harbor
Charges: 10 Counts of Video Voyeurism
What:
Detectives with the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a Palm Harbor man for 10 counts of Video Voyeurism.
When:
The video recordings took place in June 2011.
The investigation began on August 22, 2019 and Kovack was arrested on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at about 2:07 p.m.
Where:
The crime occurred at Kovack’s residence of 1732 Rambling Ridge Court in Palm Harbor.
Why/How:
Detectives with the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested 40-year-old Thomas Kovack for 10 counts of video voyeurism.
On August 22, 2019 detectives received information from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office that they were investigating Kovack for video voyeurism in Pasco County. During their investigation, Pasco County detectives identified videos on a memory card, in Kovack’s possession, that were captured in Pinellas County.
Pinellas detectives began their investigation and learned Kovack was employed as a teacher at J.W. Mitchell High School from 2011 until 2012. As a journalism teacher, he was responsible for “The Hoofbeat” student newspaper. Kovack would regularly text his journalism students while out of school and gained their trust during the school year.
According to investigators, Kovack set up a motion-activated camera in his bathroom and in June 2011, invited several students to his Palm Harbor residence for a pool party. Kovack provided the students with alcohol and offered for them to spend the night. While no students stayed the night, several were captured on the hidden camera without their knowledge or consent.
On Tuesday, May 12, 2020 detectives interviewed Kovack and he admitted to setting up the camera in his bathroom. He told detectives he recorded his students and stored the videos on the SD drive that was later obtained by Pasco County detectives.
Detectives arrested Kovack and transported him to the Pinellas County Jail without incident.
He was charged with 10 counts of video voyeurism.
The investigation continues.
Booking photo:
