US couple who allegedly spied on neighbours with drone arrested on voyeurism charges

Aaron Foote and Terisha Lee Norviel allegedly used an unmanned aerial vehicle to film people in their bedrooms and bathrooms in Orem, Utah

One victim claims to have chased the drone in his truck after spotting it outside his window (Facebook/Orem Police Department)

A couple in the US has been charged with voyeurism by electronic equipment, after being caught using a drone to spy on neighbours.

39-year-old Aaron Foote, who has a history of voyeurism, and his 34-year-old girlfriend Terisha Lee Norviel allegedly used an unmanned aerial vehicle to film people in their bedrooms and bathrooms in Orem, Utah.

One victim claims to have chased the drone in his truck after spotting it outside his window, seizing it when it landed in a car park and handing it over to police in December.

“The citizen who located the drone was familiar with drones and had a similar one himself,” reads a search warrant unsealed this week in court, according to Deseret News.

“There [were] multiple videos recording individuals inside their residences through windows. Some of the recordings were multiple storeys high in apartment complexes.”

Among the footage was a shot of Mr Foote controlling the drone, as well as one of his truck and its registration plate.

Ahead of Mr Foote’s arrest, the Orem Police Department posted a photo of the drone and a screenshot of Mr Foote, with his face concealed, to its Facebook page, alongside a message reading: “Are you missing a quadcopter? Did you lose it this morning, in Orem? Are you looking over your shoulder to see if the police are following you? Have you been convicted of Voyeurism in the past?

“Does the SD card in your quadcopter camera have videos of people in their private bedrooms and/or bathrooms? On the same SD card is there a picture of you flying your quadcopter? Would you like to turn yourself in before we have to come knocking at your door, maybe on Christmas morning, with a warrant?

“We know who you are but let’s make this easier on everyone!”

Mr Foote, who pleaded guilty to a charge of voyeurism at a local tanning salon back in 2008, is due in court next week, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Ms Norviel’s hearing, meanwhile, is scheduled for March, and both are also being investigated for potentially breaching FAA regulations.