A Maryland high school employee accused of secretly recording female students in a school changing room now faces 12 counts of abuse of a minor, authorities said. Investigators identified eight additional alleged victims and videos dating back to 2015, expanding the case from the four victims initially identified.
James Mulhern III, an employee at Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County, is accused of placing a camera in the girls' changing room. The investigation began April 7 when two students discovered a video camera in the control booth of the school's theater and found footage recorded inside the changing room.
School administrators were alerted, and the principal identified the man as Mulhern, a media services technician. Detectives executed search warrants at the high school and Mulhern's home, recovering evidence and seizing electronic devices.
Mulhern appeared in court and was ordered released on a $100,000 unsecured personal bond. Conditions of his release include staying away from Walter Johnson High School, having no contact with minors, and only having supervised contact with his 4-year-old son.
The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office stated that the newly uncovered evidence has heightened prosecutors' concerns. Each count of abuse of a minor carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison under Maryland law, meaning Mulhern could face up to 300 years if convicted on all 12 counts.