San Francisco State professor accused of recording students in bathroom

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Northern California college professor is accused of peeping on more than a dozen of his students from two different schools. Police say Mark Landis was shooting video of those students while they were in the bathroom, and there may be more victims.

He taught accounting at San Francisco State University until earlier this month, but university officials say he resigned about a week before he was arrested.

There are 15 students who filed a complaint against him, but police have found more video and now they want anyone who may have been victimized by him to come forward.

"It is very disturbing. It is very egregious conduct," said San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon.

Gascon said the professor invited several former and current SFSU and University of San Francisco students to his home in the Castro District. While in the restroom, one of them curiously picked up a tissue box. Behind the false bottom was a red blinking light. The student realized it was a hidden camera, removed the SD card, took it home and found video of at least 15 male and female students using the restroom.

"It's just pretty crazy that that would happen. You just expect teachers to be somebody you can have confidence in and trust," said SFSU student Eddie Farfan.

The student reported the crime to police. A further investigation uncovered more hidden camera videos.

"We believe, given the ongoing investigation in this case, that there are probably many other victims," said Gascon.

Landis was arrested and charged with 15 counts of invasion of privacy. He was released on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

Tissue box cameras are widely sold online and at spy stores.

Landis, an associate professor of accounting, was featured on a campus wide poster honoring SFSU faculty members who were promoted last year. He had been on the faculty since 2006 before resigning last Friday. He had previously taught at USF for two years.