New York Man Charged with Taking “Upskirting” Videos

BOSTON, March 30, 2022— Prosecutors in Boston Municipal Court today charged that a New York physician took 'upskirt' videos of several victims at an Anthropologie on Newbury Street in September 2021, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

DAMON DETESO, 49, of Saratoga Springs, New York, plead not guilty to 21 counts of secret sexual surveillance and 16 counts of attempt to commit a crime. Deteso appeared at the arraignment over Zoom this morning.  Judge Tracy Lyons released him on conditions that he return on May 25 for a pretrial hearing.  She also ordered him to stay out of Boston barring hearings or meetings with his attorney. 

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Nucci told the court that on September 24, 2021, Boston Police responded to a call at approximately 2:31 p.m. from Anthropologie at 203 Newbury Street. The manager told officers that a man had been sitting on the steps outside the store, taking 'upskirt' photos of customers without their knowledge. Deteso's cell phone had been in his backpack next to him on the steps, positioned so that people on the steps would step directly over the camera while Deteso recorded them.

“I want to send particular thanks to the staff at Anthropologie for being so alert and acting so responsibly to discover what this man was doing and bring it to the attention of Boston police.  If they hadn’t had done so he would possibly still be committing these crimes,” Hayden said. 

Anthropologie staff had reported a similar incident on August 20 and took a photograph of the suspect. The store manager took another photograph on September 24, which matched the image taken in August. Boston police were able to locate Deteso around 174 Newbury Street after identifying him as the subject of the photographs. After officers informed Deteso he was being detained, he agreed to be brought into custody for questioning. Deteso invoked his right to counsel in an interview at District 4. Detectives seized his cell phone, and after obtaining a search warrant found on it multiple videos taken by the defendant of several unaware victims.

The Commonwealth is represented by ADA Nucci. Deteso is represented by Attorney Phil Tracey.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications