By: Richard L. Smith
A Red Bank man is facing a significant prison sentence after admitting to secretly recording videos of women, including minors, without their knowledge in local stores and homes in late 2022 and early 2023, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Christopher W. Cox, 35, appeared before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including one count of second-degree eluding police, two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and three counts of third-degree invasion of privacy.
The investigation, conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau in conjunction with the Shrewsbury Borough Police Department, revealed that on October 20, 2022, Cox was observed at the ShopRite of Shrewsbury using his cell phone to secretly record videos of female shoppers.
He followed them around the store, recording from behind, before leaving in a white Dodge Durango.
A week later, on October 27, 2022, Cox was stopped by police on Newman Springs Road in Red Bank.
After initially complying with officers' instructions to exit his vehicle, he quickly re-entered the SUV and sped away, forcing an officer to release his hold to avoid being dragged.
Cox was apprehended in Little Silver shortly after the incident and taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities seized numerous digital video files from Cox’s possession during their investigation.
Many of the videos depicted women and girls being recorded from below using a concealed cell phone in a grocery basket, duffel bag, or similar items.
The investigation found that these incidents occurred in various supermarkets and stores across Monmouth and Union counties.
Cox, who had been employed as a plumber, also faced charges related to recording videos inside clients' homes.
A Monmouth County Grand Jury returned a 67-count indictment against Cox in April 2024, which was later amended to include all 27 known victims, as Cox admitted during his plea hearing.