Property manager charged with voyeurism after tenants find two-way mirror in bathroom

RCMP in Wolfville, N.S., have charged a 55-year-old man with voyeurism after two women found a two-way mirror in their bathroom that allowed someone to watch them from an adjacent room.

Al Young, 55, of New Minas, is scheduled to appear in Kentville provincial court on April 7.

Police said two female tenants found the modified mirror in their bathroom and reported it to police on Jan. 21.

"They had felt that the mirror had been manipulated or changed in some way and it brought the mirror to their attention," Kings District RCMP Const. Jeff Wilson said Thursday. "After a closer look, there were some concerns about where behind the mirror led to."

Officers conducted an extensive investigation of a property on Blomidon Terrace in Wolfville and found that changes were made to both the mirror and the wall behind it to allow someone in an adjacent room to see into the bathroom.

Wilson said one of the women had lived in the unit for a week and the other had been there for two weeks.

Police said the offences took place between Jan. 11 and Jan. 24.

Wilson said investigators have determined there were no previous victims who occupied that unit, but he encouraged anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a similar incident to contact their local RCMP detachment.

Accused ran property management company

Young was employed by MacKay Real Estate as a real estate agent for 14 years, but the owner of the company, John MacKay, said the address in question has no connection to his business.

MacKay said Young had his own side business as a property manager, and that he was managing the Blomidon Terrace building for the property owner.

He said Young had been taking a break from real estate since early last year, and informed MacKay last week that he had decided to terminate his real estate agent licence.

"It kind of made logical sense, where he had not been actively working for over a year. So we didn't really question, go into any details," said MacKay, who only learned of the charge against Young on Thursday when RCMP issued a press release about the case.

"I was shocked, floored," MacKay said. "I just hope that he gets professional help that he needs.... And I just feel so terrible for the affected tenants and the trust that they've lost and his family." 

Young is no longer an employee of MacKay Real Estate.

Real estate licence terminated

The Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission confirmed that effective Thursday, Young is no longer licensed to trade in real estate.

The owner of the property on Blomidon Terrace, Pierre Chenard, declined to comment to the CBC when reached by phone on Thursday.

A biography of Young that has now been removed from the MacKay Real Estate website stated he is involved in minor hockey, soccer and the parent-teacher association.

"His mandate is to combine his strong work ethic, honesty and professionalism to represent his clients' needs," the biography said.