Bethesda school employee accused of secretly recording students in High School changing room
A Montgomery County Public Schools employee is facing serious criminal charges after authorities say he secretly recorded underage students inside a high school changing room, according to police and local reports.
James Mulhern III, 43, a media services technician at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland, was arrested following the discovery of a hidden camera in the school’s theater control booth. Police say two students found the device on April 7 and, after reviewing its memory card, uncovered video footage showing girls changing clothes for a theater performance.
According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, the footage allegedly shows an adult male placing the camera in the changing area before leaving it to record. The suspect later returns to retrieve the device. School administrators were alerted after a student shared the video with the principal, prompting an immediate police investigation.
Detectives executed search warrants at both the school and Mulhern’s home, recovering electronic devices and other evidence. Investigators reportedly found around 200 files on the camera, raising concerns about the scope of the recordings and whether additional victims may be involved.
Charging documents cited by local outlets state that Mulhern initially denied involvement but later admitted to placing the camera and acknowledged having an “inappropriate attraction” to students. Authorities have charged him with one count of sex abuse of a minor, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
Mulhern was released on a $10,000 bond under strict conditions, including a 24/7 curfew, a ban on internet use, and prohibitions against contact with minors or returning to the school campus. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 15.
School officials confirmed that a staff member has been placed on leave as the investigation continues, while parents and community leaders have expressed alarm over the incident. Prosecutors say the case remains active as they work to determine whether additional incidents occurred. For more the Montgomery County Public Schools employee arrested after police said he recorded underage students inside a high school changing room, see the video accompanying this article.
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(Sources: Montgomery County Department of Police, Fox 5 News in DC, Bethesda Magazine)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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