Middletown Man Accused Of Filming Women Through Windows

MIDDLETOWN, RI — A Middletown man is facing video voyeurism and drug charges after police found dozens of videos looking into houses in Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island State Police said Friday afternoon. Christopher P. Toppa, 47, of North Fenner Avenue, is accused of filiming young women in various states of undress through their windows without their knowledge or permission.

Toppa was first arrested on Jan. 31, when members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Middletown police found around 120 marijuana plants, 3.6 pounds of harvested marijuana and 10.8 pounds of edibles. That day, they seized Toppa's iPhone.

Following the first arrest, Toppa was charged with one count of delivery or possession with intent, one count of manufacture of posession of marijuana over five kilograms and one count of resisting arrest. He was arraigned in Second Division District Court and released on $50,000 bail.

Police searched through Toppa's phone, finding 37 voyeuristic videos and six photos, all of which were taken from outside houses in Newport and Middletown, looking in. The videos show young women either nude or partially nude: showering, changing their clothes, using the bathroom or engaged in sexual activity. Police determined that the images were not downloaded from the internet or sent to Toppa, but were taken directly using the phone.

Police were able to identify six of the victims, who all said that the videos were taken without their consent.

Toppa was again taken into custody on Friday after resisting arrest. Police also found two more grams of marijuana in his home. He was then arraigned at Second Division District Court and charged with 16 counts of video voyeurism, posession of marijuana over one ounce and resisting arrest. He was ordered held as a bail violator and is set to appear in court for a status review on Feb. 11.

The investigation into the voyeurism is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to call 401-475-7003.

If found guilty of the voyeurism charges, Toppa faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $5,000, as well as up to five year in jail and a fine of $5,000 for the marijuana charges.