A hired audio and lighting vendor is behind bars in Colquitt County, Georgia, after unauthorized cameras were discovered at Withers Auditorium, a venue used regularly by schools and community groups. Joshua Briones, 53, was arrested and faces one count of unlawful and illegal eavesdropping and surveillance, along with a separate sexual battery charge that officials say does not involve a minor and appears unrelated to the camera investigation. Deputies say the cameras were not placed inside public bathrooms or dressing rooms, but they were found close to those areas.
The Colquitt County School District moved quickly once the cameras came to light, revoking Briones’s access to all district properties and contacting the sheriff’s office. Superintendent Dan Chappuis told families the news is alarming and acknowledged it raises difficult questions. Several key details remain unknown, including how long the cameras had been in place, what was recorded, and where any footage was stored. Investigators say other individuals are also under investigation.
For families, the case raises practical questions about how schools vet outside contractors and monitor them once they’re on campus. Whether you’re here on the Suncoast or anywhere else, it’s worth asking your local school what its vendor screening and facility check procedures look like. What would you want your school district to do differently? Let us know.
