PONTIAC, Mich. — A Michigan home inspector was convicted of indecent exposure on Tuesday after he was caught on camera allegedly masturbating with an Elmo doll in a family’s nursery during an inspection last month.
Kevin Wayne VanLuven, 61, of Clarkston, was convicted of aggravated indecent exposure after a jury trial, which took one day, WJBK-TV reported.
VanLuven was found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of malicious destruction of property, The Oakland Press reported.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, an Oxford Township couple told detectives they were selling their home and had let VanLuven and the buyer’s real estate agent into the residence on March 12, 2021, then left during the home inspection, the Royal Oak Tribune reported. A camera in the nursery subsequently alerted the phone of the 22-year-old homeowner about movement in the room, according to WJBK. The woman checked her phone and allegedly saw VanLuven in the nursery touching himself, the television station reported.
“I just went blank,” Jaida Dodson told WDIV-TV. “My husband was staring at me from across the room and was, like, ‘What’s wrong?’ He asked me repeatedly and I couldn’t even articulate what I was seeing.”
[ Michigan man accused of indecent exposure with Elmo doll during home inspection ]
The recording, provided by the homeowners to law enforcement officials, showed VanLuven holding the Elmo doll below his waist as he faced an open closet with his back turned toward the camera, the Press reported. He also appeared to be possibly adjusting the zipper on his pants.
VanLuven faces up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine, according to the Press. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 2.