Gwinnett man accused of watching female neighbor in shower

A Gwinnett County man was arrested this week after police say he spied on his female neighbor while she was showering.

Jose Mario Montoya-Varela, 31, was arrested Tuesday and charged with a single count of peeping Tom, a felony. Gwinnett County jail records show a hold has also been placed for immigration authorities.

According to an incident report from Lilburn police, the 30-year-old victim stepped out of the shower on Dec. 6 to find "a male standing outside of her bathroom window looking inside." She later told police that she recognized the man as her across-the-street neighbor, and that he had done something similar on at least one other occasion.

Police made contact with Montoya-Varela on Tuesday and, according to the report, he told them "he only looked through the window ... because he was looking to borrow a ladder, which he had permission to do.

"He advised he was only looking in the window in order to see if anyone was home, and happened to see [the victim]."

He was arrested nonetheless.