Vendor Arrested: Unauthorized Cameras at Colquitt County School

Colquitt County Sheriff's Office arrested Joshua Briones, 53, of Moultrie, in connection with the discovery of unauthorized cameras at Withers Auditorium. Authorities reported the cameras were located near, but not inside, public bathrooms or dressing rooms.

Briones, who provided audio and lighting services for an event at the auditorium, faces charges of unlawful eavesdropping and surveillance. A separate sexual battery charge has also been filed, which officials stated is unrelated to the surveillance investigation and does not involve a minor.

The Colquitt County School District confirmed it revoked the vendor's access and alerted the sheriff's office. District officials are reviewing security practices. Withers Auditorium serves district schools and several community groups.

In a message to parents, Colquitt County School District Superintendent Dan Chappuis stated, “We recently discovered that an outside vendor hired to handle audio and visual support at Withers Auditorium installed unauthorized cameras. To be clear, they were not found in public bathrooms or dressing rooms.”

The district has not determined how long the cameras were in place, what was recorded, or where any footage may have been stored. Counseling and emotional support resources will be available to students, staff, and families.