A gymnastics gym owner in Utah is facing dozens of felonies after authorities said he used a hidden camera to capture images of people in a state of undress in a bathroom.
Adam Richard Jacobs, 33, the owner of USA Gymnastics World in Woods Cross, was arrested March 22 on suspicion of 40 felonies and misdemeanors related to the incident, according to a statement of probable cause, KUTV-TV reported.
Police searched the USA Gymnastics World last week with a warrant, and allegedly uncovered hours of hidden camera footage taken inside a bathroom and the boys locker room at a gymnastics facility in Davis County.
The arrest report alleges Jacobs "intentionally placed a camera, disguised as a charging block for a cell phone, in the unisex bathroom of a local business he owns in Davis County, Utah." A Woods Cross Police spokesperson confirmed to KUTV on Thursday that the location was USA Gymnastics World. That spokesperson also said an employee of the gym found the device.
According to the probable cause statement, the videos pulled from an SD card in the hidden camera held more than 500 files. The videos were reportedly taken between Oct. 6-18, 2022 and included 70 people using the restroom or undressing, many of them children.
KUTV reported that Thursday that police couldn't yet provide a breakdown of ages for those people.
The arresting officer reported Jacobs could be seen in one of the videos putting the camera in place, though the restroom wasn't the only area of his business where the SD videos showed Jacobs hiding the camera. Court documents allege he's also seen placing it in the boys locker room at the gym. He also recorded video from his bedroom, the reports state.
The officer stated in the affidavit that Jacobs would "constitute a substantial danger to any another individual or to the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail."
Court documents also state that there could be additional allegations due to the material found during the search.
"(T)here is substantial evidence that shows there are additional victims" according to the report. "Adam, who is the owner and a trainer of the facility where the hidden camera was placed, has held a position of trust over many of his victims. Adam is a danger to the community and as such, it is requested he is held without bail."
The probable cause statement lists a total of 40 counts that Jacobs is suspected of committing, including 15 Class A misdemeanors of voyeurism by disguised electronic equipment and 25 second-degree felonies of sexual exploitation of a minor.
"We understand this is a hard time for everyone and people do feel violated," Officer Breeanna Hill said, as reported by KUTV. "There’s a lot of concern within the community which is understandable. We’re working with all the families to try and get answers to them."
An email to USA Gymnastics World parents said in part, "As some of you may already know, USA Gymnastics World co-owner and coach Adam Jacobs was arrested and booked for voyeurism by electronic equipment and sexual exploitation of a minor on March 22, 2023. As a policy, USAGW strictly prohibits staff and owners from engaging in inappropriate contact or being alone with students."
