Man accused of taking ‘upskirt photos’ of au pair in a grocery store: ‘Everyone’s entitled to their opinion’ [VIDEO]

‘She just wants some attention,’ the suspect’s brother said

A 20-year-old man has been accused of upskirting a woman in an HEB grocery store in Cypress, Texas.

As reported by ABC Eyewitness News in Houston, Isaac Smith was arrested after the alleged incident on May 31 and charged with improper photography.

The victim, identified only by her first name, Chrissi, is a 21-year-old au pair from Austria living with a host family who had recently moved to the area. She was with the family’s 2-year-old daughter at the time of the incident.

In an interview with ABC13, Chrissi said she noticed the man invading her personal space in the store aisle, but was not aware at first that he had taken photos. She recounted that another customer approached to alert her to the alleged crime:

“I turned around and an older man came over and he was like ‘excuse me ma’am, but I think this guy just tried to take a picture with his phone under your skirt.'”

When Smith reportedly attempted to approach Chrissi again, she confronted him, but he denied any wrongdoing. After reviewing the store’s security video, police arrested Smith and took him into custody.

Smith spoke to ABC 13 on his way into court, when he indicated that the whole thing is a misunderstanding.

Smith was a bit vague in his denial, while saying that he didn’t take any upskirt photos despite what the alleged victim says and what the surveillance video appears to show.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” he said, later adding that he willingly handed his phone over to police, who still have it — insisting that he has nothing hide.

Smith’s brother, who had joined him for his court appearance, told ABC 13 that people are misunderstanding the video, which he says if watched closely shows that his brother had his phone in his pocket at the time.

“You can’t take a photo with your foot,” the suspect’s brother said. “She just wants some attention,” he added, presumably referring to the au pair.

Earlier, Chrissi’s host parent Jayna (also identified only by her first name), also spoke to ABC 13, saying was “furious” that such an incident could happen.

“The whole spirit of the au pair program is to embrace an au pair, bring them into your home for a year, teach them the American way of life, show them your culture and see what it’s like to have someone live in America. And that is not an experience I wanted her to have.”

Jayna also expressed concern that Chrissi was not the only potential victim.

“I feel like he has to be doing this to other people.”

Smith is out on bond, but is barred from having contact with children and or using a cellphone with internet access.

 

Photo: ABC 13 screenshots