Patrick Lott, a 55-year-old former Bernardsville Middle School assistant principal, faces a 91-count indictment for videotaping 29 boys without their knowledge as they showered at Immaculata High School in New Jersey, The Star-Ledger reports.
Lott was arrested Dec. 23 following police raids on his home, during which authorities confiscated computer files and digital recordings. At the time, prosecutors said he had secretly filmed 22 boys, including nine under the age of 16. According to the Superior Court indictment filed in Somerville, authorities now allege he filmed 29 boys, 15 of whom were underage.
Capt. Jack Bennett, spokesperson for Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, said that all of the victims seen in the recordings have been identified. Lott was later placed on an unpaid leave of absence by the district, and resigned from his $120,000 job in February.
According to The Star-Ledger, authorities began their investigation of Lott after the Diocese of Metuchen, which oversees Immaculata High School, was informed of “inappropriate behavior” on the part of the educator and volunteer sports coach. Detectives later discovered a camera that had been installed in the boys’ shower room.
The accusations against the educator have shocked the community, as Lott has been a popular educator, coach and political figure in the area for more than 25 years the Asbury Park Press reports.
Lott was often a presence at the school’s football games, filming the games and practices from a platform in the end zone.
Lott’s charges include 29 counts of third-degree invasion of privacy, 30 counts of second-degree child endangerment, 17 counts of third-degree child endangerment and 15 counts of fourth-degree child endangerment. According to Somerville Today, he remains in Somerset County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Earlier this week, Matt Hansen, a 38-year-old teacher for the Fort Zumwalt School District in O’Fallon, Mo., was charged with felony possession of child pornography after it was discovered he allegedly videotaped 80 male students undressing before getting in the showers while participating in the district’s outdoor education program.