A 51-year-old attorney in Arizona has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including burglary and voyeurism, for allegedly recording women in their homes. Michael DiBenedetto was taken into custody by Tempe Police last week after allegedly targeting several women in a series of incidents.
During his court appearance, DiBenedetto, who represented himself, offered an unusual explanation for his past behavior, citing his work as a divorce attorney. He claimed that in a 2009 incident in Illinois, he was acting as a private investigator for a client who could not afford one, and that his actions then were in service of that client's divorce case. "I had a client that could not afford a private investigator and, essentially, I was doing that for them to save them some money," he stated in Maricopa County Court. He acknowledged observing spouses but said it "wasn’t necessarily speaking to these current allegations."
Prosecutors have charged DiBenedetto with four felony counts in connection with the recent incidents in Tempe. According to police, in one instance on June 18, DiBenedetto allegedly drove his luxury Rivian SUV to a victim's home, climbed a fence, and attempted to record a woman showering through her bathroom window with his iPhone. The victim reported seeing him outside the window with his phone. His vehicle was reportedly seen near the victim's home on two other occasions.
Investigators identified DiBenedetto's vehicle and began surveillance. Police reported observing him entering a woman's backyard near Parkway Boulevard, where he allegedly began engaging in lewd acts while looking into a room where a female victim was undressing. Police then apprehended DiBenedetto and booked him into jail.
Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy stated, "Being watched or recorded without your knowledge is a profound invasion of privacy." He commended the detectives and the Criminal Apprehension and Surveillance Team (CAST) for their swift work in apprehending the suspect. Police are urging any other potential victims who may have seen DiBenedetto's SUV to come forward and contact investigators.
DiBenedetto's bail has been set at $25,000. Authorities are encouraging Tempe residents to remain vigilant and implement security measures at their homes.