A former Miami-Dade Fire Rescue lieutenant has pleaded guilty after prosecutors accused him of secretly recording employees inside a fire station bathroom.
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Manuel “Manny” Fernandez took criminal responsibility Thursday, more than three years after a hidden recording device was discovered inside a Miami-Dade fire station in 2023.
Fernandez pleaded guilty to one count of video voyeurism.
Under the plea agreement, a judge sentenced Fernandez to three years of probation. He must also stay away from all of the victims in the case.
Fernandez will avoid prison and will not be considered a convicted felon under the terms of the sentence.
Prosecutors said Fernandez secretly recorded 18 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue employees and that investigators recovered more than 600 video clips.
The case first came to light in 2023 when a firefighter noticed what appeared to be a suspicious USB wall-charging device plugged into an outlet inside the station.
The firefighter examined the device and determined it was actually a hidden recording camera.
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In May 2024, NBC6 exclusively reported that Fernandez had been identified by police as the prime suspect in the investigation.
Fernandez was arrested in July 2025.
During Thursday’s hearing, Fernandez told the judge that all of the videos had been deleted.
The judge also imposed a stay-away order involving the victims. Fernandez was told that if he encounters any of them, including in a public place, he must walk away and avoid interacting with them.
Prosecutors said all of the victims approved the plea agreement. They also mentioned a pending civil case where records show Fernandez is a defendant.
Fernandez resigned from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue last year because of the investigation.
Fernandez and his attorney declined to comment on the plea agreement following Thursday’s hearing.
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