Police: 15-year-old accused of taking photos of woman at tanning salon

GASTONIA, N.C. — Wanda Ballard is angry at the teen accused of taking pictures of her at a tanning salon.

"How could you do that? Why would you do that," Ballard said.

She had gone to Shades of Summer in downtown Gastonia for five years. As she finished tanning with no clothes, Tuesday, she said she noticed a cellphone held over the wall around the tanning bed.

"I am very upset," Ballard said. "I feel violated."

Ballard said she spoke with the owners and when they confronted the 15-year-old, he confessed to taking pictures of her.

"You never know if you are going to end up on the Internet," Ballard said.

She called Gastonia police.

The boy is just under investigation but could face a felony peeping charge because he is accused of using his phone as a recording device.

This is a strong charge for a child, but Ballard said it should be a stiff charge.

"I want to prosecute to the fullest," Ballard said.

The owners of the Shades of Summer said they could not talk about the case right now.

Police said they have the report, but they cannot comment on the case because the suspect is a minor.

They will look at the images on the camera.

Ballard said a detective called her Tuesday morning to talk about the case. Detectives said they are in the early stages of their investigation.

WSOC