According to a report by WNYC published April 24, 2026, a Manhattan man convicted of secretly recording sexual encounters with multiple women inside his Upper East Side apartment has been sentenced to 30 days in jail, along with five years of probation.
The defendant, Daniel McAvoy, 52, received his sentence Thursday from state Supreme Court Justice Ellen Biben after completing a yearlong, court-mandated treatment program. Notably, the court ruled that he will not be required to register as a sex offender.
McAvoy is the son of Thomas McAvoy, a senior federal judge. Authorities confirmed that while evidence tied to the case was discovered during a 2022 search of the judge’s home in the Binghamton area, the elder McAvoy was never implicated in any wrongdoing.
Investigators recovered multiple storage devices, including hard drives and more than 150 DVDs labeled with women’s names and descriptions of sexual acts. Prosecutors later charged McAvoy with dozens of counts of second-degree illegal surveillance—a felony involving the non-consensual recording of individuals in private settings for sexual purposes.
Initially facing up to four years in prison, McAvoy ultimately avoided a lengthy sentence after his legal team successfully argued for his placement in a specialized court program focused on treatment rather than incarceration. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, led by Alvin Bragg, had opposed that move.
In explaining her decision, Justice Biben cited McAvoy’s compliance with treatment, expressions of remorse, and what she described as a low likelihood of reoffending. She also noted that all incidents involved consenting adults and stated that requiring sex offender registration could negatively impact his responsibilities as a parent.
As part of the sentence, McAvoy is prohibited from contacting any victims or possessing sexually explicit material. He must also continue undergoing treatment approved by probation authorities.
Defense attorneys Isabelle Kirshner and Wayne Gosnell described the outcome as fair, emphasizing their client’s cooperation throughout the process. They also stressed that his father had no involvement in the case, clarifying that the materials seized were found in a private room used by McAvoy.
The case, which spanned nearly four years, included emotional testimony from victims who described lasting psychological harm. In court statements, some spoke of anxiety, fear, and the erosion of trust following the discovery that they had been recorded without consent. Two victims have since filed civil lawsuits seeking damages, which remain pending.
McAvoy is scheduled to begin serving his 30-day jail term on May 11 and is expected to be held at Rikers Island.
— Adapted from reporting by WNYC
