Prosecutors say a Rutgers research dean was arrested for secretly filming an “upskirt” video on campus, a charge that hits trust, dignity, and the school’s own ethics rules all at once.
Story Snapshot
- State authorities charged Joshua Kohut, 51, with fourth-degree invasion of privacy.
- Officials alleged he used a phone to take an “upskirt” video without consent.
- Rutgers placed him on leave and barred him from campus during the probe.
- New Jersey law treats “upskirting” as invasion of privacy under established case law.
State Charges And The Core Allegation
New Jersey’s Attorney General announced the arrest of Joshua Kohut, the dean of research at Rutgers’ School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, on a count of fourth-degree invasion of privacy. Prosecutors said he used a mobile phone to take an “upskirt” video of a woman on campus without her knowledge. Authorities stated they seized a device that contained such video, and the case is now in the hands of state prosecutors. Kohut has not entered a plea in court filings cited by reports. One charge does not equal a conviction.
Rutgers moved quickly once informed of the charge. The university placed Kohut on administrative leave and banned him from campus during the investigation. The school’s leadership profile shows his role includes supporting research compliance and ethical standards, which raises the stakes when conduct allegations target the same guardrails a leader is supposed to uphold. The school’s message signaled a standard playbook: separate the accused from the workplace, protect the community, and preserve evidence while law enforcement proceeds.
What New Jersey Law Says About “Upskirting”
New Jersey’s invasion-of-privacy law covers secret recording of intimate parts even when covered by clothing. The state’s Appellate Division made clear that “exposed” does not mean “naked,” which closes a loophole that once let some offenders claim the clothing barrier excused the act. That interpretation aligns with how lawmakers and courts have reframed “upskirting” as a privacy and dignity offense. The harm is the non-consensual capture of intimate areas, not only public indecency or nudity thresholds.
That legal clarity matters on campuses. Phones are everywhere. Victims often do not know a recording happened. Prosecutors in similar cases rely on device forensics, location data, and any quick witness reports. The state’s charge here fits that pattern: a named location, a mobile device, and a claimed cache of videos on a seized phone. The fourth-degree count signals the state believes the statute plainly applies. Defense counsel in other cases often attack intent or consent; courts tend to look at the act itself.
Institutional Trust, Swift Consequences, And Conservative Common Sense
Leaders at public universities set standards by their choices. When a research dean faces a charge tied to privacy and respect, the credibility cost lands on students and staff first. The school’s ban from campus protects potential victims and witnesses. That is the minimum a serious institution should do. Conservative common sense backs this: hold leaders to higher standards, act fast to shield the community, and let the court process run without campus interference. That approach preserves order while due process plays out.
Image-based abuse has grown with cheap cameras and instant sharing. A 2023 review described “upskirting” as a newer entry in violence against women and girls, which explains why laws had to catch up and spell out that “under the skirt” counts as intimate, even if fabric blocks a clear view. New Jersey’s courts did that work years ago, and the Attorney General’s office now charges these cases with confidence under that reading. The rule is simple: you do not get to film under someone’s clothes. Period.
The Stakes For Rutgers And What Comes Next
Reputation risk for a flagship school multiplies when the accused holds a role tied to research ethics and compliance. The public expects zero tolerance for boundary crossing and total cooperation with law enforcement. Rutgers’ next moves likely include continued leave, restricted access to systems, and support for any victim. If prosecutors file more details in court, the school will adjust its response to match, as most universities do under their conduct and Title IX style policies.
Rutgers University dean caught filming ‘upskirt’ videos: ‘extremely disturbing charges’ https://t.co/rVUCUmrIlg
— Dian (@Dian5) August 26, 2026
The court will decide guilt or innocence. The community still needs guardrails now. That means clear reporting paths, cameras where they deter, and a culture that shuts down lewd voyeurism in real time. Families send their kids to college for learning, not to play cat and mouse with secret cameras. Laws in New Jersey already say the quiet part out loud: if you point a lens under clothing, you invade privacy, and prosecutors can prove it in court. That clarity should guide every campus leader’s choices today.
Sources:
nypost.com, onnj.com, sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu, extension.rutgers.edu, patch.com
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