Maumee salon owner jailed on charges of filming girl, 17

Matthew Gonzalez

A prominent Maumee salon owner was taken into custody in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday on charges that he filmed a teenager undressing while using a tanning bed at his business.

Matthew Gonzalez, owner of Matthew Vincente Salon, is charged with one count each of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, tampering with evidence, and obstructing justice. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.

Mr. Gonzalez, 49, of 1337 Cromly Ct. is accused of hiding a cell phone in a tanning room at his Garden Road salon and recording a client. He is also charged with discarding the phone after fleeing with it while being questioned by police.

According to police reports, a 17-year-old client noticed a cell phone in a vent while using the tanning bed on Sept. 28. After looking at the phone, she recognized the telephone number as being the salon owner’s and a text on the phone was addressed to Mr. Gonzalez, authorities said.

She left the cell phone where it was, but left the facility and called authorities.

Toledo police questioned Mr. Gonzalez at his salon on Oct. 5. According to a complaint filed in Toledo Municipal Court, Mr. Gonzalez stood up during the interview, “grabbed the cell phone and dove out a second-floor window.”

“He then discarded the phone to an unknown location while he was fleeing,” the complaint said.

The phone was not recovered, but authorities said the victim saw herself in a video in a state of undress.

Mr. Gonzalez was initially charged with obstructing justice and tampering with evidence, and he posted 10 percent of a $20,000 bond set Oct. 6 in Toledo Municipal Court. He was indicted Nov. 20 on all three charges.

Mr. Gonzalez appeared for arraignment Wednesday before Judge Linda Jennings, who rescheduled the court date to Jan. 9 for appearance of his lawyer, Ronnie Wingate. The judge then ordered Mr. Gonzalez held in lieu of $75,000 bond for the charge of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

Mr. Wingate could not be reached for comment.

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.