Neighbors file suit over peeping

Man had pleaded guilty to videotaping neighbors in their homes; he is serving a 7-month sentence.Four people filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday against a Huntington Beach neighbor who secretly videotaped them nude in their homes for several years and spliced the footage into pornographic films.

William David Brown pleaded guilty on Dec. 27 to three misdemeanor charges of peeking by an instrument. He is serving a seven-month sentence, said Orange County Assistant Dist. Atty. Joe D’Agostino.

Brown also was sentenced to three years probation and must attend a sex offenders program upon his release from prison, D’Agostino said.

According to the civil complaint, Brown had been secretly videotaping three of his neighbors for several years, filming them in various states of undress and then splicing the footage into X-rated films.

The video cameras were strategically mounted throughout Brown’s home and property, including his attic and his child’s playhouse.

The wiring to all cameras had been installed underground and run directly to equipment in the garage.

Brown had assembled an elaborate lair in his attic with video editing equipment; he also had 24-hour video surveillance monitors in his garage.

Brown’s mother, Lois K. Havens, was also a named defendant in the civil suit because she was aware of Brown’s activities long before a police investigation ensued, said Eric Traut, attorney for the plaintiffs.

According to the civil complaint, the investigation into Brown’s activities began a little over a year ago after one of the plaintiffs noticed a box on top of Brown’s child’s playhouse.

She called the Huntington Beach police, who eventually got a search warrant and found Brown’s equipment and videotapes.

Brown turned himself in to police in January 2005, said Lt. Dave Bunetta.

Traut said his clients -- three women and a boyfriend of one of the women -- are seeking punitive damages as well as an order from the judge that all copies of the offending tapes be turned over to them.