Record label founder from Kalamazoo accused of using hidden cameras to take nude photos

Michael Johnston, a Kalamazoo native who now lives in Chicago, has been accused of setting up hidden cameras to take nude photos of a nanny and her friend without their knowledge or consent.

Johnston, 38, is the co-founder of the record label Audiotree, the owner of music venues Schubas Tavern and Lincoln Hall, and the son of Kalamazoo billionaires William Johnston and Ronda Stryker.

According to the lawsuit, obtained by the Chicago-Sun Times, Johnston and his wife, Kelly Johnston, hired a nanny, referred to as Jane Doe, to provide in-home care for their two young daughters in 2019. Julie Doe, Jane's friend, nannied for a close friend of the Johnstons, the lawsuit says.

One day, around January 2020, the Johnstons asked Jane to house-sit while they were on vacation and invited Julie to stay with her. The lawsuit says they were encouraged to use the master bedroom and the jacuzzi bathtub.

Jane and Julie were videotaped undressing and bathing in the bathroom and in other rooms around the house, the lawsuit alleges.

The next month, they were asked to housesit again. This is when Jane discovered a hidden video camera, disguised as a picture frame, aimed at the jacuzzi bathtub, according to the suit. She then found multiple other cameras throughout the house, all appearing at first glance to be ordinary household items.

Previous footage on the bathtub camera shows Michael Johnston setting it up and angling it at the tub, and even standing in it, to make sure it was positioned correctly, the lawsuit alleges.

So far, both Johnstons have been named in the civil suit and Michael is also facing criminal charges.

An attorney representing Michael Johnston told NBC Chicago that Michael "takes these allegations seriously, and will continue to work through the legal process."

His record label Audiotree said in a Twitter statement that he is no longer with the company.

Jane Doe told NBC Chicago Investigates that her life is "forever changed because of what they did to me. … I hope that by speaking out about this I can empower other survivors to do the same.”

Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kalamazoo man accused of taking nude photos with hidden cameras