A Camarillo man pleaded not guilty to 14 misdemeanor counts in Los Angeles federal court on Oct. 14 related to allegations that he abused his access at Naval Base Ventura County to capture and share unauthorized images and videos.
The 46-year-old was charged with 11 counts of violation of a defense property security regulation and three counts of entering military property for an unlawful purpose, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
The Camarillo man was employed by a construction company that had a three-year contract with the naval base for several projects, DOJ officials said.
The man worked on four projects and had credentials for access to different parts of the three facilities at the base, including Point Mugu.
An investigation
found that from June 2024 to September 2024, the Camarillo man had unlawfully taken pictures and videos of sensitive equipment, military exercises and airplanes, the DOJ said.
The man also allegedly shared the material and information on military activities with his associates.
The U.S. Navy regulates photography on naval property. Bases, including those in Ventura County, post visible signage stating photography is prohibited, officials said. The Point Mugu base houses naval logistics and weapons commands, including facilities to conduct weapons research, development and evaluation.
The man was released on his own recognizance, said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office. He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 8, McEvoy said.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Camarillo man pleads not guilty to illegal filming at Navy base
