PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A former student at Williams College has pleaded guilty to placing a surveillance camera in a college restroom. 

 

Maxwell Hall, 22, of Weston pleaded guilty last Thursday in Superior Court to 16 charges of surveilling a person in the state of nudity or semi-nudity.

 

Hall was sentenced to one year in the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction with 30 days direct and the remaining balance suspended. His conditions of probation are to have a sex offender evaluation; to continue treatment/counseling; to have no direct or indirect contact with any of the named/identified victims; and not to possess surveillance equipment except that needed for home security.

 

According to the District Attorney's Office, on Jan. 16, 2025, the Williamstown Police Department received a report from the college's Campus Safety Service regarding suspicious activity in the Lasell Gymnasium. 

 

The campus officers stated they believed there was a surveillance camera, disguised as a phone charger, placed in a second-floor public restroom in the gymnasium. A Williams College student brought the camera to the attention of the campus security after observing a surveillance device disguised as a phone charger. Over a period of approximately 6 hours, Hall captured 58 videos of 16 victims. 

 

Following an investigation, Hall was identified as the main suspect. 

 

"I commend the Williamstown Police Department on their thorough investigation. This type of crime, often referred to casually as 'upskirting' has a far too lenient criminal sentence in Massachusetts. People should be able to go into public bathrooms and into changing rooms without fear of surveillance," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said in a statement. 

 

"The law must appropriately recognize this massive breach of public trust when such criminal acts of surveillance are committed."

 

Weston was a junior at the time of the incident and a member of the wrestling team. 

 

The lead law enforcement agency was the Williamstown Police Department, supported by the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force. Special Victims Unit Chief Rachel Eramo represented the commonwealth.