“Peeping Tom” landlord camera shy as he faces 2,000 NEW CHARGES !!

Norristown’s “Peeping Tom” landlord proves to be camera shy as he faces 2,000 new charges

The Norristown landlord who allegedly concealed cameras throughout his tenants' apartments for two decades hid something else today: himself.

Thomas C. Daley hiked his light-blue denim shirt up over his face as he navigated a phalanx of photographers on his way into district court. There, the 45-year-old Phoenixville resident was arraigned on more than 2,000 charges by Magisterial District Judge Francis Lawrence Jr.

Daley, who was represented by attorney Timothy Woodward, then waived his preliminary hearing on charges that include invasion of privacy and criminal use of a communications facility.

Prosecutors withdrew the two criminal complaints filed last month against Daley, replacing them with one document that added offenses related to 25 additional victims. That brings the total of victims identified in the complaint to 34 - all of whom "feel completely violated," said Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.

"The general reaction has been horror," she said, speaking at a news conference yesterday afternoon.

Ferman said authorities believe the real number of victims is substantially higher than 34. She said that police found 32 cameras, 14 of which had audio capability, and that Daley admitted spying on his female tenants - and their guests - for 20 years.

The statute of limitations for Daley's crimes allows prosecutors to file charges dating back three years; however, Ferman said police want to talk to all victims, regardless of how long ago they lived in one of Daley's 12 apartments.

She said determining the appropriate punishment for Daley will require knowing the full extent of his criminal behavior.

Surrounded by piles of Daley's electronic equipment, Ferman detailed the "incredibly sophisticated scheme" he employed to catch his female tenants, most aged 20 to 30, in "compromising positions."

In some instances, the screws holding doorbells, towel rods, and ceiling fans were hollowed out to create "pinholes" linked to hidden cameras, she said. Daley ran lines into the basements of his apartment buildings, connecting them to DVRs; those were then connected to the Internet so he could access the footage from home, Ferman said.

No evidence exists that Daley did anything but use the material for his own gratification, Ferman said. But she added a qualification: "That aspect is still under investigation."

After the arraignment, Woodward said his client was remorseful and was accepting responsibility for his actions.

"He doesn't want to inconvenience the victims by having them come to court to testify," Woodward said of Daley's decision to forego the hearing. "If I had a crystal ball, I could see a guilty plea down the road."

Ferman said she hoped that would happen.

"If he's truly remorseful, he has the oppportunity to do the right thing and spare the victims [from testifying]," she said.

The judge scheduled a formal arraignment date of Dec. 3 for and set bail at $1 million; Daley, again covering his face with his shirt, was returned to the Montgomery County jail.