Man accused of peeping after incident at library UPDATE

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A man is facing a peeping tom charge after an incident that happened this week at one of New Hanover County’s library branches.

According to a spokesperson for the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, a 17-year-old boy was using the bathroom at the Pine Valley location (3802 College Rd.) on Wednesday around 4:30 p.m.

When he looked up, he saw someone holding a cell phone above his bathroom stall.

A fight broke out between the teen and the man holding the cell phone and deputies were called.

52-year-old Valdenir De Souza was arrested and charged with the crime of Secret Peeping.

UPDATE (8:20 p.m.): The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office says De Souza faces additional charges.

The Sheriff’s Office says De Souza was ultimately charged with 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, 10 counts of 3rd-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and 9 additional counts of secret peeping.

He is now being held under a $1.5 million bond.