Real estate salesman charged with hiding camera in Patterson-Schwartz's bathroom, also a minister

Isabel Hughes | The News Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Headlines November 21, 2019 Here are some of the top stories we're following for Thursday, November 21, 2019.

A real estate salesman who was charged Monday with putting a hidden camera in the women's bathroom at the realty office where he worked also served as a minister at a church near Bear.

Desi Turner, 59, was charged with two counts of invasion of privacy after the camera was discovered in a bathroom stall at Patterson Schwartz's South College Avenue office, Delaware Online/The News Journal previously reported.

The bathroom is located in an area of the office the public has access to.

Turner was listed as a bishop at Cornerstone Ministries International in Bear. The church has taken down its website and Facebook page since his arrest.

Several attempts by Delaware Online/The News Journal to reach Cornerstone Ministries International by phone and in person were unsuccessful.

An official at a union building in Newark that Cornerstone Ministries International previously listed as its address said Turner used to rent out a hall in the building, but no longer does. His current address could not immediately be located.

Turner's LinkedIn page shows he began working at Patterson Schwartz in April, after working for Ford Motor Company for nearly 27 years.

According to Delaware's professional licensing website, Turner has a valid real estate salesperson license, which was issued on April 17 of this year. It's set to expire April 30, 2020.

Court documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal reveal more details about the investigation by Newark Police.

BACKGROUND

Newark police investigating camera found in women's bathroom at real estate office

Newark police charge man after camera found in women's bathroom

The camera was initially found on Nov. 11 by a woman who picked up a toilet paper roll and saw it fall out. She then called police, documents show.

Police were able to identify and contact one other woman who was videotaped, though they are still working to identify the "numerous" other women who, according to court documents, were videoed "using the bathroom with their exposed buttocks visible."

Newark police almost lost the video footage when a corporal accidentally threw out the camera's memory card, though it was later found. The Micro SD card led detectives to Turner. Court documents say he was captured on the video positioning the camera in the back of the stall then "quickly" leaving.

Patterson-Schwartz manager Chris Cashman said effective Monday, Turner was no longer employed with the company. He had served as an independent contractor for the real estate office.

"We are shocked and saddened by the events that have occurred," Cashman said in a statement. "Our utmost concern is for the well-being of any woman who may have been victimized. We are grateful to the Newark Police for their swift resolution to this incident."

Newark Police Department Lt. Andrew Rubin said concerns that cameras could have been placed at other locations "are under investigation."

"We are reviewing all the evidence available to us," he said.

Send story tips or ideas to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_