Suspect Arrested for Secretly Recording Woman at Houston Brewery
HOUSTON, Texas – A Mexican man, accused of entering the United States illegally, has been apprehended for allegedly recording a woman without her consent at a brewery in the Houston area. Immigration officials have placed a hold on him.
This month, Houston police arrested 40-year-old Edley G. Villale, who is suspected of secretly filming a woman in a bathroom at Bad Astronaut Brewery back in July 2024. A witness reported to a local news outlet that Villale attempted to record her by positioning his phone underneath the bathroom stall door.
The woman, identified as Crusilla Bilton, shared her experience, stating, “It was a very private moment that wasn’t private anymore,” when speaking with reporters. She mentioned that she rushed out of the bathroom to confront him and that footage from the brewery captured Villale fleeing the scene.
The brewery’s manager reported that he provided the video evidence to the police within a day of the incident. Tiare Austin, the manager, also noted she searched social media in an effort to gather more information regarding the suspect.
Following an investigation, police identified Villale as the individual involved in the incident. He was indicted on June 13 and taken into custody four days later, according to reports.
Court documents reveal Villale faces charges for invasive recordings, classifying as a felony under Texas law. A new law, HB 1465, signed by Governor Greg Abbott on May 29, mandates that individuals convicted of such crimes must register as sex offenders once it takes effect on September 1st.
In a related case, another undocumented immigrant received a six-year prison sentence in March after being convicted of a disturbing act at a Houston clinic, where he contaminated water bottles with bodily fluids, as reported previously. This case allegedly resulted in health complications for a woman, who developed herpes and hepatitis A after the incident.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the individual involved in the clinic case had also entered the U.S. unlawfully and remains detained at Harris County Jail.
One of the victims expressed concern over the lasting effects of these incidents, noting that “his unpleasant behavior left many of us with permanent health concerns.”
