A New Jersey high schooler recorded nearly 40 videos of women and minors using public restrooms

A New Jersey high school student was arrested Tuesday after a camera he allegedly planted in a mall bathroom was found with footage of dozens of women and four minors using the restroom, officials said.

Andy Cardenas, 18, was hit with a single count of invasion of privacy after a woman made the alarming discovery in a JC Penney public restroom at the Newport Center Mall in Jersey City. according to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

The woman found the hidden device on August 9 while using the family restroom at the clothing store and turned it over to authorities.

Investigators discovered disturbing footage on the device of unsuspecting victims from several different toilets – including at least two that appeared to be private residential toilets.

The camera contained “approximately 35 videos of adult females exposing themselves on the toilet, approximately four videos of female minors exposing themselves on the toilet, and one video of a man and a woman engaging in sexual acts together on the toilet ” says a criminal complaint obtained by NJ.com.

Importantly, footage was also captured of a man – later identified by investigators as Cardenas – setting up the hidden camera in the bathroom of JC Penney. The clip contributed significantly to solving the case and led to his arrest.

Investigators don't know how long the medical program ran. The footage did not contain any dates or timestamps, prosecutors said.

They also don't know where all the videos were filmed. The office released images of four unidentified toilets to ask the public for help identifying their locations.

Cardenas, of Jersey City, is due back in court Oct. 22.