Southern California Therapist Sentenced to 200 Months for Hidden Camera in Bathroom: What Survivors and Families Should Know

image of hidden camera overlayed image of a blurry bathroom with text, "Joesph Toews Sentenced to 200 Months: Can Victims Sue?"

Quick Answer

Joseph Toews, a marriage and family therapist in Manhattan Beach, was sentenced on September 29, 2026 to 200 months (16 years, 2 months) in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography after installing a hidden camera in a women's restroom stall at his therapy office in January 2023. Prosecutors said the device recorded at least 11 videos of minors. Although he has been criminally sentenced, survivors and families still have separate civil legal options to recover any damages they may have suffered.

What Happened: Timeline

Date	Event
Late 2022	FBI alleges test recordings of therapy sessions using a hidden camera
January 2023	Camera installed in a women's restroom stall at his workplace
December 2025	Federal investigators search his residence
April 2026	Arrest by the FBI
June 23, 2026	Guilty plea to one count of production of child pornography
September 29, 2026	Sentenced to 200 months in federal prison
Source:	KTLA

According to court documents, Toews worked as an associate marriage and family therapist at Neuro Wellness Spa in Manhattan Beach. The device recorded at least 11 separate videos of minor victims, some of whom, according to the plea agreement as reported by the Los Angeles Times, received therapy services from him. The FBI investigated, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted the case.

How Long Was Joseph Toews Sentenced?

A federal judge sentenced Toews to 200 months, which is 16 years and 2 months. U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. also ordered Toews to serve 25 years of supervised release after his prison term, imposed a $50,000 fine, and ordered him to pay a $55,000 special assessment. Federal sentences do not include parole, and supervised release begins only after the prison term ends.

What Did Toews Plead Guilty To?

He pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. Under federal law, production covers creating sexually explicit visual material depicting a minor, including secretly recording a child. The plea agreement also states that from January 2023 to December 2025 he knowingly received child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through darknet video stores. In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors wrote that his conduct "was not a spur-of-the-moment happening" and that he "had been stockpiling CSAM prior to his decision to create CSAM of his own."

Criminal Sentence vs. Civil Lawsuit: What Is the Difference?

A criminal case is brought by the government to punish an offender. A civil case is brought by a survivor or family to seek compensation for harm and to examine whether others failed to protect a child.

Key differences:

Who brings the case: Prosecutors file criminal charges. Survivors file civil claims through their own attorneys.
What it can result in: Prison, fines, and court-ordered restitution in criminal court. Monetary damages in civil court.
Standard of proof: Criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil cases use a lower standard, generally a preponderance of the evidence.
Conviction requirement: A criminal conviction is not required to bring a civil claim. The civil lawsuits in the Roblox litigation, for example, concern the platforms' own conduct and do not depend on a criminal case against an individual predator.

For a deeper explanation, see our guides on criminal vs. civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse and civil vs. criminal sexual assault. You can also read about the role of civil lawsuits in holding perpetrators accountable.

Can an Employer or Facility Be Held Responsible in Civil Court?

Yes. In cases where a trusted professional abuses or exploits a child, civil law allows claims against more than the individual offender. Employers, clinics, and facilities can be held accountable when their own conduct allowed the harm to happen. Common legal theories include:

Negligent hiring: The organization failed to properly screen, background-check, or verify the credentials of the person it put in contact with children.
Negligent retention: The organization learned of complaints or warning signs and kept the person in the role anyway.
Negligent supervision: The organization let an employee have unsupervised or unmonitored access to children or to sensitive areas of the facility.
Premises and safety failures: The organization failed to control access to spaces such as restrooms, or had no policies on recording devices, facility inspections, or reporting concerns.

These are the questions a civil case examines. The answers depend on evidence, such as hiring files, supervision records, internal complaints, and facility policies, which an attorney can obtain through investigation and the discovery process.

What the public record shows in this case: Court documents describe Toews as an associate marriage and family therapist at Neuro Wellness Spa who installed the camera in a restroom at his workplace. In May 2026, the company told KTLA it was "shocked" by the arrest, that he worked there for less than two years, and that he "never saw any non-adult patients." Court documents describe some victims as having received therapy services from him. Those accounts differ, and the public record does not address how he was hired, supervised, or monitored. This article does not allege that any organization was negligent. Whether one was depends on facts that have not been made public.

“A therapist's office should be the safest room a child ever walks into. For these girls, it wasn’t. If your child saw a therapist in this building, you may have legal rights. We're here when you're ready.”

—Sara D. Beller, Partner, Dolman Law Group
Dolman Law Group Sexual Abuse Attorney, Former Deputy DA in Sexual Assault Child Abuse Unit

Dolman Law Group's Track Record in Child Sexual Abuse Litigation

Dolman Law Group attorneys are counsel of record in 55 federal lawsuits in the Roblox child exploitation litigation, In re: Roblox Corporation Child Sexual Exploitation and Assault Litigation (MDL No. 3166), according to court dockets as of September 29, 2026. A Dolman attorney is lead or first-listed counsel in 40 of those cases. The firm filed its first Roblox complaint in July 2025, about five months before the cases were consolidated. In February 2026, the court appointed Dolman attorney Michael A. Baudinet as Executive Committee Development Counsel. The firm has filed on behalf of families in at least 16 states and in state courts in California, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and New Jersey.

The firm's abuse work extends to institutions. In October 2025, Dolman Law Group filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court in Washington against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on behalf of four men, with co-counsel. The firm also announced its involvement in the Uber passenger sexual assault litigation (MDL No. 3084) in December 2023.

Sara D. Beller spent more than six years as a Deputy District Attorney in the Riverside County, California Sexual Assault Child Abuse unit and tried more than 55 cases to jury verdict. Every case number described above is public. Review the full list, with links to dockets and news coverage, in Dolman Law Group's Roblox Child Exploitation Litigation Record.

Past results do not guarantee or predict the outcome of another legal matter.

What Parents Can Do: Protective Steps

Hidden-camera crimes can happen in places families assume are safe. These steps lower risk and help you respond if something seems wrong:

Ask about facility policies. Ask any clinic or provider which restrooms children use, whether they are public or staff-only, and how the space is monitored.
Keep communication open. Tell your child they can always tell you if something felt strange, and that they will not be in trouble.
Know the warning signs. Read our guide to signs of grooming and how to recognize predatory behavior early.
Understand mandatory reporting. Learn the role of mandatory reporters in child abuse cases.
If you believe your child was harmed, follow the steps in what to do if you believe your child has been a survivor of sex abuse.

Where to Report

Local law enforcement or 911 in an emergency.
The FBI tip line to report suspected federal crimes.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children CyberTipline to report suspected child sexual exploitation.
The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 for confidential support, guidance, and help finding the appropriate reporting resources.

For more, see how to report sexual abuse and how to report a doctor's sexual abuse.

Legal Options for Survivors and Families

Survivors and families may have the right to pursue a civil claim for the harm caused by abuse or exploitation. A civil case can seek compensation for things such as counseling and treatment costs, emotional distress, and other losses. The options available depend on the facts and on state law.

Filing deadlines: California has specific rules for childhood sexual abuse claims, and recent legislation has changed some of them. See our guides to California filing deadlines, recent developments in California's sexual abuse laws, and the California AB 250 revival window.
Privacy: Survivors often worry about exposure. Read how to protect an abuse survivor's privacy during litigation.
Evidence: See what types of evidence are needed in a sexual assault civil lawsuit.
Process: See how to file a civil lawsuit for child sexual abuse.
Choosing counsel: See finding trauma-informed legal representation for minor survivors and understanding the legal rights of child sexual abuse survivors.

Related healthcare-setting content: doctor sexual abuse lawsuits, what rights survivors of medical abuse have, what to do if sexually abused by a doctor, and our coverage of the Northwell Health bathroom spy camera lawsuits, which involved a comparable hidden-camera allegation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long was Joseph Toews sentenced to?

Joseph Toews was sentenced to 200 months (16 years and 2 months) in federal prison on September 29, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr.

What did Joseph Toews plead guilty to?

He pleaded guilty on June 23, 2026 to one count of production of child pornography. His plea agreement also admits receiving child sexual abuse material from January 2023 to December 2025.

Can victims sue after a criminal conviction?

Yes. A criminal sentence punishes the offender but does not compensate survivors. Survivors and families may have separate civil options, including claims against employers or facilities that failed to protect children, depending on the facts and state law.

Can an employer or facility be sued if a therapist or healthcare worker abuses or records a child?

Yes, in some cases. Civil law allows claims against employers, clinics, and facilities when their own conduct allowed the harm, such as negligent hiring, retention, or supervision, or failing to control access to sensitive areas like restrooms. Whether an organization is responsible depends on evidence, such as hiring files, complaints, and facility policies. No organization has been found responsible in the Toews case.

Is a conviction required to file a civil claim?

No. A civil claim does not depend on a criminal conviction. It is a separate case with a different standard of proof.

What is the difference between restitution and a civil lawsuit?

Restitution is ordered in the criminal case and is often limited to specific, documented losses. A civil lawsuit can seek broader damages and can examine whether others failed to protect a child.

What is the time limit to file a childhood sexual abuse claim in California?

California has special rules for childhood sexual abuse claims, and they have changed in recent years. See our California filing deadlines guide.

How do I report suspected abuse by a therapist or doctor?

Contact local law enforcement, the FBI at tips.fbi.gov, or the NCMEC CyberTipline. Licensing boards also accept complaints about therapists and physicians.

Does a free case evaluation cost anything?

No. A case evaluation with File Abuse Lawsuit is free and confidential, and you're never obligated to file a lawsuit or move forward unless you're ready.

Speak With a Survivor-Focused Legal Team

If you or your child may have been harmed by a therapist, doctor, or other trusted adult, you can request a free, confidential case evaluation. Contact us or browse all lawsuits we are following.