DA’s Office Secures Conviction After Jury Trial in People v. Gary L. Houghtaling

The Cattaraugus County District Attorney, Ashley E. Smith, announced today that the following person was convicted:

Little Valley, New York -On October 24, 2026, Gary L. Houghtaling of Olean, New York, was found GUILTY by a jury of his peers after a three-day long trial in County Court with the Honorable Ronald D. Ploetz presiding. HOUGHTALING was convicted of one count of Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree, a class E Felony.

On or about and between April 21, 2025, and July 31, 2025, in the Town of Olean, HOUGHTALING, for his individual amusement, entertainment, profit, or for the purpose of degrading or abusing a person, intentionally used a camera to surreptitiously view, broadcast, or record a person's sexual or other intimate parts at a place and time when such person had a reasonable expectation of privacy and without such person's knowledge or consent.

Following his conviction, the defendant was released on his own recognizance pending sentencing, which is scheduled for January 4, 2027. HOUGHTALING faces the possibility of a maximum indeterminate sentence of imprisonment of one and one-third to four years.

The District Attorney's office was assisted in its investigation of Gary Houghtaling by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department and the New York State Police. The strong and continued partnership and collaboration between the District Attorney's office and law enforcement is what keeps our community safe and ensures that justice is appropriately served.

District Attorney Ashely E. Smith prosecuted the case.