Authorities say a Kalama man was arrested on Wednesday for secretly recording sexually explicit images or videos of children at a home.
Thomas George Jude, 41, was booked into Cowlitz County Jail around 7:43 a.m.
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office has not released the location of the home where the recordings took place, but said all victims of suspected voyeurism have been identified. The Wednesday evening press release does not disclose the number of victims.
Jude was booked on suspicion of voyeurism, as well as dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The press release says the sheriff’s office received on July 22 multiple tips on the trafficking of child sexual abuse material from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The information came from electronic service providers, cloud storage services, and messaging and chat apps that reported such images were sent, received and stored by accounts linked to a Kalama resident, the notice states.
After obtaining search warrants and subpoenas, investigators say they matched the accounts to Jude. The press release says an investigation discovered sexually explicit images and videos of children that appeared to be secretly recorded with hidden cameras inside a residence.
The sheriff’s office says they seized a laptop and small surveillance cameras from the home.
Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Patricia Fassett set Jude’s bail at $100,000 at his Thursday hearing. He was also appointed a public defender, and issued four no-contact orders. His next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2.
