Ohio Mayor Charged After Hidden Camera Allegedly Catches Him in Teen’s Bedroom
A small Ohio community has been rocked after its sitting mayor was charged with voyeurism, following allegations that a hidden camera captured him entering a teenage girl’s bedroom and engaging in disturbing behavior.
Wesley Dingus, 48, the mayor of Butler, has been charged with two counts of voyeurism after authorities say he was recorded on a hidden camera inside a teenage girl’s bedroom.
According to law enforcement records, the footage was captured in January after the girl installed a camera in her room out of concern that someone had been entering while she was at school. Investigators allege the video shows Dingus picking up the teen’s underwear, smelling it and touching his groin area over his clothing.
The incident was reported to Richland County Children’s Services. Deputies later issued summonses in February 2026. Dingus appeared in Mansfield Municipal Court, pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. The court ordered him to wear a GPS ankle monitor and to have no contact with the child.
The case raises serious safeguarding concerns about boundary violations, abuse of trust and the protection of children within their own homes. Child protection experts stress that children’s concerns should always be taken seriously, particularly when they express fears about personal safety. The teenager’s decision to document her suspicions underscores the importance of listening to children and empowering them to speak up.
Dingus, who has served as mayor since 2022, is also facing unrelated felony charges connected to a separate 2025 vehicle incident. The investigation into the voyeurism case is ongoing.
