Andrew Farago, formerly the curator of San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum, was arrested on June 3 and charged with 20 counts of invasion of privacy related to the alleged use of a hidden camera. The Berkeley Police Department initiated the arrest following an incident at Farago's home during a birthday party he cohosted on May 23.
According to police, the party was attended by more than 20 guests, including several children aged three and older. During the event, a guest discovered Farago's phone concealed beneath a towel, positioned to record individuals using the bathroom. The guest reportedly found a video on the device showing Farago setting up the camera.
When confronted, Farago admitted to the act and stated that he had deleted the recorded videos from his phone and cloud storage. In an email sent to party guests after the event, Farago expressed regret, writing, "I hid my phone in our bathroom for the purpose of spying on our guests, my closest friends in the world." He added, "I had never done anything like that before and don't know what possessed me to do it."
Police obtained a warrant and arrested the 50-year-old Farago at his residence, seizing several electronic devices. The investigation is ongoing, and the Berkeley Police Department has not released further details. The Cartoon Art Museum confirmed that Farago is no longer employed there, with a museum director stating, "We are shocked and saddened by this situation."
Farago had served as the curator of the Cartoon Art Museum for nearly 25 years and is described on his LinkedIn profile as a globally recognized authority on comic art, animation, and pop culture. His biography also notes extensive experience in museum operations, including curatorial duties and collections management. Farago has also worked on multiple projects with Marvel.