A co-owner of a Utah gymnastics studio allegedly had over 500 explicit files of more than 70 people, including children, from a bathroom-mounted covert camera.
Adam Jacobs, 33 years old, was detained on March 22 as a result of an inquiry that began on March 3.
Police said that someone then discovered a recording device disguised as a smartphone charging block in a men’s restroom at USA Gymnastics World in Woods Cross, Utah.
According to the accusation, the camera was aimed directly at the washroom toilet and had an unobstructed view.
The camera, which dates back to October 2022, showed the majority of minors using the restroom or undressing, according to police.
On the day Jacobs was detained, law officials conducted a search order at his residence and seized “further evidence,” according to police, who did not specify what was seized.
“Currently, law enforcement knows the identities of all victims and is attempting to notify them,” Woods Cross police stated in a press release.
In an interview with KSL NewsRadio, the mother of one of the juvenile victims described it as “a gut hit.” She disclosed privately to the local news outlet that Jacobs was her son’s coach.
She told KSL NewsRadio, “I had trusted this man with my son since he was five years old.” “On a number of occasions, he has spent more time with Adam than with his own family.”
24 accusations of sexual exploitation of a juvenile and 15 counts of voyeurism were filed against Jacobs. Jacobs and another man co-owned the gym, but law enforcement believes he acted alone and no other staff were involved.
The police used electronic detecting dogs to search the gym but did not uncover any additional contraband.
