Maxwell Hall Pleads Guilty to 16 Counts of Surveillance
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Thursday, Oct. 22, Maxwell Hall pleaded guilty to 16 charges of Surveilling a Person in the State of Nudity/Semi-Nudity.
Hall was sentenced to one year in the Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction with 30 days direct and the remaining balance suspended. His conditions of probation are to have a sex offender evaluation; continue treatment/counseling; no direct or indirect contact with any of the named/identified victims; and possess no surveillance equipment except that needed for home security.
According to the District Attorney's office, On Jan. 16, 2025, the Williamstown Police Department received a report from the Williams College Campus Safety Service regarding suspicious activity in the Lasell Gymnasium, Williams College. The Campus Safety Service stated they believed there was a surveillance camera placed in a 2nd floor public restroom in the gymnasium. A Williams College student brought the camera to the attention of the Campus Safety Service after observing a surveillance device disguised as a phone charger. Following an investigation, Maxwell Hall was identified as the main suspect later pleading guilty to 16 charges.
“I commend the Williamstown Police Department on their thorough investigation. This type of crime, often referred to casually as 'upskirting' has a far too lenient criminal sentence in Massachusetts. People should be able to go into public bathrooms and into changing rooms without fear of surveillance.," District Attorney Shugrue stated. "The law must appropriately recognize this massive breach of public trust when such criminal acts of surveillance are committed.”
The lead law enforcement agency was the Williamstown Police Department, supported by the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force. Chief of the Special Victims Unit Rachel Eramo represented the Commonwealth.
