Police charged a 57-year-old Irwin florist with possessing obscene materials, saying he hid a video recording device in a floral arrangement he placed in a woman’s bedroom and downloaded nude images of her to his computer, according to court papers.
North Huntingdon police also charged Eric J. Belak, a township resident who operates Belak Flowers in Irwin, with illegal use of an electronic recording device, invasion of privacy and stalking.
“I have no comment,” Belak said when reached by phone Monday.
Officer Scott Urias reported the investigation began May 7 when a woman arrived at the police station saying one of her relatives discovered nude images of her downloaded on one of Belak’s computers.
She told police a small camera was discovered in a flower arrangement in her bedroom, Urias said. She told police her relative told her when Belak was confronted about the images, “he took the computer and began deleting stuff.”
A few days after the photos were discovered, the woman provided Urias with a text message she received from Belak apologizing.
“Call me. I made a stupid, drunk decision. I don’t know how to apologize,” the message read, according to Urias.
Belak also told the woman via social media he had not shared the photographs, Urias reported.
Urias obtained a search warrant for electronic equipment in Belak’s residence. According to court papers, evidence retrieved during the search indicated Belak secretly filmed the woman May 1-4.
“There is also footage of Eric rearranging the floral arrangement and camera and holding a device that appeared to be an iPad or tablet,” Urias wrote in court documents.
Belak did not have an attorney listed in court documents.
Online court dockets indicate Belak has no prior criminal record.
According to court dockets, he was served the complaints via mailed summons from Rostraver District Judge Charles Christner’s office.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled July 19.
