Courthouse cameras used to peep into condos

SPOKANE -- A private security guard at the U.S. Courthouse has been fired after allegedly using remote-controlled security cameras to peer into a nearby condominium.

The condo spying came to the attention of the Justice Department a week ago, and federal investigators are looking into the matter.

"Allegations have been made, and it is under investigation. That's all I can say," Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice of Spokane said Tuesday.

Ron Wells, architect of the pricey West 809 condominiums, said he was contacted June 12 and told of the alleged spying.

"I do know that authorities are investigating it," Wells said. "The reality is that this could happen anywhere, even in suburbia, because there are cameras everywhere today."

The West 809 project is owned by a subsidiary of Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review newspaper, which first reported the story Wednesday.

The investigation could lead to voyeurism charges, Rice said.

The fired guard, whose identity was not released, worked for a private company, Secure Solutions LLC, the newspaper reported Wednesday.

The Florida-based company has a contract with the U.S. General Services Administration to provide outside perimeter security in the city block that contains the nine-story U.S. Courthouse.