Eastern Iowa Man Facing 26 Charges for Filming Child
A man in Marion, Iowa is facing charges for allegedly installing a camera in the bathroom and bedroom of a 10-year-old in a home in the same city.
Zachary Christian Peters of Marion is up against "12 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 12 counts of possessing a depiction of a minor in a sex act, and two counts of invasion of privacy," per the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
The Gazette adds that "According to a criminal complaint, Peters had 12 videos in his possession that showed the child naked. The first was recorded by a camera in the girl’s bathroom on Sept. 9, 2020, and the rest were recorded by the same camera, installed in her bedroom between March 20, 2021, and Nov. 17, 2021. The recordings were made without the girl’s knowledge."
The young girl's mother found photographs of her daughter on Peters' phone in December of 2021, and a police investigation was launched at that time. The relationship between Peters and the victim's family was not specified.
Additionally, per the Gazette, a no-contact order has been filed on behalf of the girl. The 36-year-old had his first appearance in court yesterday, October 25, and he is being held at the Linn County Correctional Center on a $50,000 cash-only bond. He was booked into the facility on Monday, October 24.
According to Puryear Law PC, "A person convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor under subsection 1 can receive a 10-year prison term. Subsection 2 convictions can carry a 5-year prison term, while subsection 3 is an aggravated misdemeanor for first offenses, which can result in a 2-year sentence to the Iowa Department of Corrections (prison)."
Additionally, per KeeganLaw.com, "Invasion of privacy is an aggravated misdemeanor, and a person convicted of this offense could face up to 2 years imprisonment and a fine between $625 and $6,250."