Photographer Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Woman During Boudoir Shoot
A professional photographer has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a client during a boudoir photo shoot that he was hired for.
Photographer John Steven Lill was arrested and charged with sexual assault in Bexar County, Texas this week.
Former United Services Automobile Association (USAA) lead corporate photographer Lill was hired by a woman, who is in her 20s, to shoot boudoir photos on May 4.
According to KSAT News, the woman says she arrived with a friend at the location for the photo shoot which was also Lill’s residence.
However, the 48-year-old photographer allegedly sent the woman’s friend away, saying that the boudoir photo session would take a long time. He also told the woman that no one could wait outside the residence.
When she was inside the location, Lill allegedly offered wine to the woman and she consequently lost consciousness.
The woman told investigators that she believed that the wine had made her “woozy.” When she eventually regained consciousness, the victim believed that she had been assaulted by Lill.
“When she came to, the next thing that she remembers is the suspect was urging her to bathe, we believe, to cover up evidence,” Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar tells KSAT News.
That same day, the victim contacted The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office that same day and reported the photographer.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office responded to the victim’s home in north Bexar County. While the Deputies were gathering information from the victim, Lill was seen leaving his residence in his vehicle and the photographer agreed to return to his home to speak with investigators.
When questioned by investigators, Lill admitted to giving the woman wine and to having sex with her, but the photographer claimed that it was a consensual encounter with the woman. According to The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the victim denies these allegations.
Lill was then arrested and charged with sexual assault, a second-degree felony. He was taken to the Bexar County Jail and has since bonded out.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office is now asking the public to come forward if they have also been victimized by Lill during a photo shoot.
The boudoir photo shoot appears to have been intended as a side job for Lill. KSAT News reports that he also worked on staff as a photographer at USAA.
However, Lill’s contract was terminated immediately after the company was notified about his arrest. Bexar County Sheriff Salazar says that there is no evidence at this point that anything happened involved USAA and that the company is cooperating fully with the criminal investigation.
If you or someone you know has been victimized by Lill during a photo shoot, contact The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigators by calling 210-335-6000 or email at [email protected].
Image credits: Header photo licensed via The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
