Man Who Filmed Kids In Bathroom Pleads Guilty Of Child Porn

CHEVY CHASE, MD — A Chevy Chase man who secretly filmed children using bathrooms in his house pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of possessing and producing child pornography. Jonathan Mark Oldale, 55, of Greystone Court, agreed to a plea deal and possibly faces between 15 and 25 years in prison, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. He is expected to be sentenced on April 1, 2019.

Oldale was arrested by police on Oct. 11, 2017, after he left a backpack containing a hidden camera in the bathroom of a Silver Spring gymnastics studio. An employee found the backpack, which was positioned under a "Wet Floor" sign, on May 5, 2017, prosecutors said. The camera had been placed inside what appeared to be a non-working car key fob. The light on the camera was illuminated, leading the employee to think it was turned on.

The employee also told police that he had found a backpack on the same bathroom floor three weeks earlier. Upon further investigation, police determined it was Oldale's backpack.

Police searched Oldale's residence twice in the last year. During a May 2017 search, investigators reportedly found electronic devices, including three laptops. A digital forensic review revealed that two of the computers had access to the dark web and file names "consistent with child pornography," officials said.

In July of 2017, officers recovered a cell phone, three spy cameras, and six MicroSD memory cards. The SD memory cards contained thousands of videos of children in his bathroom, according to the press statement. The videos showed kids undressing and dressing, taking a shower, and using the toilet. Prosecutors said at least 30 children were filmed.

Upon further investigation, county and federal officials learned that Oldale would invite children to "splash parties" at his house. The kids would play on an inflatable structure in the backyard and get covered in grass. A witness told prosecutors that Oldale would then make the children take showers before they went home.

Under his plea agreement, Oldale "agreed to the entry of a $400,000 money judgment in lieu of forfeiture of Oldale’s interest in his residence," which he used to commit his crimes, according to the press statement. In addition, Oldale must register as a sex offender.

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