Outrage Erupts in Tampa, FL: Ex-Flight Attendant Sentenced for Secretly Recording Girls – SENTENCING DETAILS REVEALED

Tampa, FL – A former flight attendant was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison today in Tampa after being convicted of secretly recording underage girls in public restrooms and changing areas across multiple Florida counties. The case, which has stirred public outrage and prompted urgent calls for tighter surveillance in public spaces, concluded Friday at the U.S. District Court in Tampa, where the judge called the crimes “a grotesque violation of privacy and trust.”

Ethan Radner, 39, of Lakeland, was arrested in 2023 after authorities recovered dozens of hidden-camera videos from his electronic devices. Investigators say Radner installed covert cameras in family-friendly facilities—including gyms, airport bathrooms, and even theme parks—over a span of four years. Some of the footage included victims as young as 9 years old.

Key Facts

• BREAKING: Ex-flight attendant sentenced to 18 years for secretly filming girls across Florida

• IMPACT: At least 26 victims identified, including minors as young as 9

• OFFICIAL SOURCE: “This was predatory, deliberate, and calculated.” – U.S. Attorney Roger Handley

• ACTION: Public urged to report suspicious devices in restrooms and changing rooms

Hyperlocal Impact

1. Precise Location:
   Channelside (33602) – U.S. District Courthouse near E Whiting Street and S Franklin Street

2. Community Connection:
   “I bring my daughter to the gym here. Now I’m scared to let her go alone.”
   – Karla Mendez, South Tampa YMCA member

Court records showed Radner used his flight credentials to travel freely and disguise surveillance equipment as toiletries and power banks. The FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force, along with the Polk and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Offices, worked in coordination to trace the crimes back to him through digital forensics.

Families of several victims were present in the courtroom, with one mother tearfully calling the sentencing “justice, but not enough.”

Exclusive Angle

• WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:
  Radner’s case is one of several recent incidents exposing the vulnerability of public restrooms and changing areas. Earlier this month, Sarasota police arrested a man for similar crimes at a beachside restroom. Advocates are pushing for new legislation that mandates camera detection sweeps in high-traffic areas.

Crisis Response

• IMMEDIATE RESOURCES:
  » Victim Assistance Hotline: 1-800-843-5678 (NCMEC)
  » Florida Child Safety Helpline: 1-866-490-STOP

• OFFICIAL GUIDANCE:
  “Be alert for small, out-of-place items in restrooms. Report concerns immediately.”
  – Lt. Morgan Alston, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Update Log

• 8:45 AM: Victims’ families arrive at federal courthouse

• 10:12 AM: Judge sentences Radner to 18 years in federal prison

• 11:00 AM: DOJ releases official statement to press

• 2:30 PM: Florida lawmakers announce bipartisan support for new “Safe Spaces Act”