A former Williams College student has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for installing a hidden camera in a unisex bathroom on campus, where he secretly recorded 16 individuals. Maxwell N. Hall, 23, of Weston, pleaded guilty on October 21 in Berkshire Superior Court to 16 misdemeanor counts of photographing unsuspecting nude individuals.
Judge James M. Manitsas sentenced Hall to a one-year jail term, suspending all but 30 days, and imposed a year of probation. Conditions of his probation include compliance with a sex offender evaluation, continued treatment, no contact with the victims, prohibition on possessing surveillance equipment, and signing all probation releases. Travel restrictions were waived.
The incident occurred in January 2025 when a student using the bathroom at Lasell Gymnasium noticed a hidden camera facing the toilet and alerted authorities. An investigation revealed that the camera captured approximately 4.8 hours of footage across 58 video files. Officials noted that those recorded were unaware of the surveillance. The hidden device was determined to have been recording for nearly five hours prior to being discovered.
Hall was identified as the perpetrator in part through an analysis of key card access logs to the gym area at the time the camera was placed. Authorities used this data alongside other investigative methods to confirm his involvement.
Berkshire District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue praised the police investigation but expressed concerns about the adequacy of the sentence. He pointed to a broader issue with lenient punishments for crimes involving covert surveillance, often referred to as “upskirting,” in Massachusetts. Shugrue emphasized the importance of ensuring that public spaces such as bathrooms and changing rooms remain free from unauthorized surveillance, characterizing such acts as significant breaches of public trust.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in addressing privacy violations associated with hidden cameras and reflects growing calls for stricter penalties in cases of illicit video recording in private or sensitive settings.