The Cristo Rey Jesuit High School community is in shock and outrage after discovering a hidden camera in the girls’ locker room. The device, planted by the school’s former security coordinator, Fernando Bustos, was found during an inventory count when he was fired. The news sparked demonstrations, parents’ anger, and calls for enhanced school security.
The scandal came to light when law enforcement was called to the school on February 19. However, many parents only learned about the incident weeks later—through news reports rather than from the school itself. A former security guard allegedly placed the hidden camera on 41-year-old Fernando Bustos, who now faces charges of invasion of privacy.
When the police did make an investigation, they uncovered over 400 recordings spanning May 2024 to February 2025. On the tapes, the students were recorded in states of undress, having their privacy invaded in an environment that was meant to be safe. Most damning was the recording that captured Bustos himself installing the camera, leaving no doubt that the act was intentional.
On March 4, frustrated and heartbroken parents gathered on campus, demanding transparency and accountability from school officials. Some parents were seen crying, while others expressed anger at how the situation was handled.
While the news was gruesome, frustration grew with the school’s handling. Parents were enraged when they heard the school administrators delayed telling them about the incident for several weeks. Most parents heard about it only when the media pushed the administration to publicize the news.
“I felt sick when I heard about this. How could they not tell us sooner? My daughter was using that locker room. The school should have been upfront from the start.”
Said Rosario Loyola, a concerned parent.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School eventually wrote to parents in Spanish and English detailing the circumstances and adding more security measures. However, refusing to provide an open public forum to parents only served to heighten the tensions, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability.
The hiring of Bustos has raised significant concerns. Before joining Cristo Rey, he was an officer for the Greenfield police department but resigned in 2020 due to misconduct charges. Investigators uncovered that he had stolen and falsified evidence, leading to his inclusion on the Milwaukee County Brady List and the Flagged Officer List in Wisconsin, which lists law enforcement officers whose credibility is compromised.
Despite this blemished background, Bustos was hired as the school’s security coordinator, with the privilege of entering sensitive areas such as the locker rooms. Since then, the school has promised to review its background screening processes, but parents are left to wonder how this glaring mistake happened.
Bustos was charged with invasion of privacy by use of a surveillance device. Bustos showed up in court on March 5 and was released on a $750 cash bond—a figure many parents deemed shockingly low given the seriousness of his alleged crimes.
Bustos waived his right to have a preliminary hearing and entered a plea of not guilty on March 13. There was evidence to send the case to trial, with the next hearing scheduled for April 16. Prosecutors continue to investigate, and because of the footage obtained, charges beyond the one filed are possible.
The school’s students have not remained silent about this scandal. On March 8, dozens of students staged a walkout to protest and call for increased accountability and devotion to their safety. They didn’t feel the administration did all it could to handle their concerns, leaving them vulnerable and disregarded.
Senior Rachel Tapech attended the controversial school board meeting at Cristo Rey, with tensions running at an all-time high.
“So many students were crying. We went to that meeting because we wanted answers, but we didn’t get them,We walked out because we needed to show them that this isn’t okay.”
She said.
Following the walkout, the administration let students go early, citing the need to give the community space to heal. Some viewed this as the first step towards relieving students’ distress, but others saw it as an attempt to diffuse tension without having honest conversations.
Under intense scrutiny, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School has outlined new security measures, including:
✅ Stronger background checks for employees
✅ Increased security presence on campus
✅ Regular locker room inspections to prevent unauthorized surveillance devices
The school has also created an online portal for frequently asked questions to improve communication moving forward.
In a statement, Cristo Rey officials said:
“We stand with our students and families and are committed to ensuring their safety. We are working closely with law enforcement to bring justice in this case.”
Despite such assurances, parents and students remain dubious. Time will be required to heal the wounds of the invasion of privacy, and the school’s response will be monitored in the coming months.
This case also sparked broader debates regarding school security, transparency, and employment policies. It prompted the immediate question: How can the students be better protected by the authorities keeping them safe? For now, parents, students, and advocates stand together, demanding a secure future and holding the people responsible for this betrayal accountable.
