An Ohio mayor has been arrested on voyeurism charges after he was allegedly caught on hidden camera smelling a teen girl’s panties, according to police.
Wesley Dingus, who is the top politician in the village of Butler, was arrested on February 13 — a month after he allegedly entered the room of an underage girl and sniffed four different pairs of her underwear.
The victim, who police said was staying at the Republican mayor’s home, allegedly set up the camera because she suspected someone was rummaging through her personal things.
It was unclear why the teen girl was living at Dingus’ home. Police also did not disclose how Dingus and the alleged victim knew each other. She is a high school student, police said.
Missouri Mayor Used Power of Office to Sexually Assault Victims, Police Say
The concealed camera also allegedly caught Dingus, 48, “touching his groin area over his clothes” as he handled the worn underwear, according to an incident report shared with Us Weekly.
Investigators claim that the allegedly incriminating footage was captured back on January 13. The victim told police she received multiple motion alerts on her phone and later shared the video with authorities.
Investigators had set up a meeting with Dingus, who later canceled on the police on the advice of his attorney, Us has learned.
Dingus appeared in court on Thursday, February 19, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released after posting 10 percent of his $10,000 bond.
Under the terms of his release, Dingus must wear a GPS monitor around his ankle, and he must refrain from having any contact with the victim.
Dingus has been the mayor of Butler since 2022, when he took over the post after his predecessor resigned. Previously, he had served as the president of Butler’s Board of Commissioners.
Soon after that, Dingus was formally elected to a full term as Butler’s mayor, receiving 199 votes from the under 1,000 denizens who call the village home.
This is Dingus’ second arrest in less than a year, Us has confirmed.
Man Arrested After Wife Finds Videos of Naked Teen Babysitter on His Phone
In August 2025, Dingus was indicted on dereliction of duty, falsification, and aggravated and vehicular assault after he allegedly mowed down a wanted criminal suspect with his car.
According to the Richland Source, Dingus was at a gas station to get a soda and tobacco on July 11, 2025, when he allegedly spotted a man crossing the street — a man he knew was wanted for a parole violation.
The man tried to flee, and Dingus allegedly hit the man with his car. The suspect was detained by police, who said that the mayor hit the man with his car twice.
Dingus entered a plea of not guilty in that case, which is still pending in court. The man who violated his parole was expected to recover from the injuries he sustained in the incident, reported the Richland Source.
Us was unable to reach Dingus or his attorney for comment on Monday, February 23.
If Dingus is convicted on the voyeurism charges, he faces up to a year in prison and fines totaling up to $2,500.
