Michael Johnston, the proprietor of Chicago-based label Audiotree and venues Lincoln Corridor and Schubas Tavern, has been accused of establishing hidden cameras in his Roscoe Village dwelling to seize nude photos of his kids’s nanny. Johnston and his spouse, Kelly Halverson, have been sued in a civil go well with, in keeping with NBC5.
The go well with was filed by two unnamed ladies who’re mates and up to date graduates of DePaul College. In accordance with their lawyer, one was employed in December 2019 as a house supervisor, youngster caretaker, and private assistant to Johnston and Halverson. In a single occasion, “Jane Doe” was requested to arrange some bins within the couple’s bed room closets, which she found have been crammed with intercourse toys. A month later, Jane and “Julie” have been requested to housesit and have been “inspired to make use of the Jacuzzi bathtub within the grasp rest room” and to “assist themselves to the Johnstons’ wine and beer whereas they have been away.” Each ladies allege that the couple secretly videotaped them whereas undressed utilizing spy cameras.
One month after that, the go well with alleges that the couple had Jane housesit for them once more, however this time, previous to undressing, Jane discovered a hidden digital camera disguised as an image body aimed close to the tub. From there, Jane searched the home and located two extra hidden cameras, one disguised as an iPhone dock charger and one other within the bed room she was sleeping in.
On November 10, Johnston appeared in bond courtroom on a felony cost of constructing an unauthorized recording in a rest room. Halverson has not been charged. Through his lawyer, Johnston says that he “takes these allegations significantly and can proceed to work by means of the suitable authorized course of.”
In a written assertion, Jane stated,”My life is ceaselessly modified due to what they did to me…I hope that by talking out about this I can empower different survivors to do the identical.”
Audiotree, based in 2011 by Johnston and Adam Thurston, markets itself as a brand new music discovery platform and a house to all members of the music trade. The corporate is effectively often known as a vacation spot for reside music periods, with Audiotree Dwell broadcasting on to YouTube. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Audiotree hosted a sequence of reside digital live shows.
UPDATE: Audiotree has shared a press release relating to Michael Johnston, saying he’d been “eliminated as President & CEO of Audiotree, Audiotree Presents, Lincoln Corridor, Schubas, and Tied Home.” Learn the remainder of the assertion under.