UNF student videotaped with hidden cameras speaks out

A University of North Florida student is speaking out in the hopes others will do the same after a former student was arrested on sextortion and video voyeurism charges.

Action News Jax spoke exclusively with Josh Portillo, who says he is one of Jesse Martinez’s many victims.

Portillo tells me he met Martinez while participating in a student-led organization at the Osprey Fountains. “My first impression was he was a soft-spoken guy,” Portillo said.

Around March or April, things started to take a turn after Portillo said Martinez came to him portraying himself as victim regarding a problem he was having with his roommates. “He was talking about catfishing on Grindr,” Portillo said.

According to UNF police, Martinez was no victim. He’s in jail awaiting his next court hearing after being accused of not only threatening to release nude photos of a fellow classmate but also placing hidden cameras in the library men’s restroom and his dorm at the Fountains.

Portillo said he’s one of several students who was videotaped unknowingly while in the men’s room. “It's very, very scary and very disturbing to know that your privacy is taken, that somebody's watching you,” Portillo said.

Portillo reached out to Action News Jax to speak out because he said students need to know it’s OK to seek help. “If you feel like something's up, tell somebody, talk,” Portillo said.

UNF won’t say whether it's making any changes to security because of this case.

Portillo hopes students will now be more aware.

“If you could speak with Jesse, what would you tell him?” asked reporter Lorena Inclán. “Why?” Portillo said.

Martinez is due back in court on Sept. 5. He’s facing 15 additional video voyeurism charges on top of the initial charge of threatening to share nude photos of another student.

Cox Media Group