Video Suspect Is Found Dead

No Formal Charges Were Filed, but Landlord Allegedly Spied on
Vineyard Haven Tenant; an Apparent Suicide

By JULIA WELLS
Gazette Senior Writer

A sordid Vineyard story turned tragic this week, when a local
electrician who was under police investigation for allegedly videotaping
a female tenant in her bathroom was found dead in his home on Wednesday
night.

Richard T. Lehman, 50, lived on Franklin street in Vineyard Haven
next door to a home he had rented out for many years.

The apparent cause of death was suicide, but Tisbury police would
release no information yesterday pending the outcome of an
investigation.

In a written statement, Mr. Lehman had admitted to police last month
that he had installed a camera in the bathroom of his tenant so he could
watch her taking a shower, police said.

The tenant, a single mother with two children aged 12 and 16, called
police on June 26 after her son discovered the camera in a heating vent
in the bathroom.

Mr. Lehman had not been arrested or charged with any crime, but
police had searched his home and had confiscated a large amount of
sophisticated electronic surveillance and media equipment. Much of the
equipment had been turned over to the state police crime lab.

Tisbury police chief Ted Saulnier confirmed yesterday that police
received a call at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday to respond to the Lehman
residence.

Chief Saulnier at first refused all comment and told a Gazette
reporter to file a written public records request to which he would
respond within ten days.

After repeated questions, the chief confirmed that police had
responded to the call, and that Mr. Lehman had been found dead. He said
officer Robert Gianelli responded to the call, along with other
officers, as well as EMTs, but the chief said he could not remember how
many. He said state police Sgt. Neil Maciel also responded to the call.

The chief said the earlier criminal investigation of Mr. Lehman is
still ongoing.

Mr. Lehman was a longtime Vineyard resident and established
electrical contractor. He was the wiring inspector for the town of
Aquinnah and the assistant wiring inspector for the town of Chilmark. He
kept his business office in Vineyard Haven, where he also lived and
operated a rental home. He was also well known in Aquinnah, where he had
lived and owned property. A graveside service will be held there
Saturday, August 7 at 11 a.m. at the Gay Head Cemetery.

Information about Mr. Lehman's alleged peeping activities
began to trickle out last month after Tisbury police executed a series
of search warrants in connection with the investigation.

If Mr. Lehman's written statement to the police was accurate,
the alleged activities may have dated back for many years, and he may
have had accomplices.

The woman tenant whose son found the camera in her bathroom filed a
civil complaint in Dukes County Superior Court last week, claiming
invasion of privacy and emotional distress.

The complaint was filed under a pseudonym.

The woman was one of a group of past tenants who had rented from Mr.
Lehman, and who had engaged the services of an attorney to consider
possible civil action.

The tenants are represented by Geoghan Coogan, a Vineyard Haven
attorney, and Brian Mone, a partner with Mone, D'Ambrose &
Hanyen, in Brockton.

Mr. Mone said yesterday that his clients intend to press the civil
complaint against Mr. Lehman's estate.

"It doesn't change anything with respect to their civil
remedies - obviously there is no criminal case any longer -
but as for the civil side, the suicide of Mr. Lehman, while regrettable,
will have no effect on the case. It's just that now they will be
pursuing their rights against Mr. Lehman's estate and it is our
intention to continue along those lines," Mr. Mone said.

Mr. Coogan, who is associated with Mr. Mone, expressed regret at the
events of this week, and said he had spoken with a number of the clients
and former tenants. "Everyone was shocked, real shocked. He had a
family, he had kids, I think everyone is more concerned for them right
now than anything else," Mr. Coogan said.

Mr. Lehman had long family ties on the Vineyard; he was previously
married and had a daughter, and he also was the father of a young son
born in May of this year.

Many who knew him through work and community life described him as
something of a loner who often appeared troubled.

An obituary will appear in the Gazette next week.

Gazette staff reporter Alexis Tonti contributed to this story.