A Maryland high school employee, James Mulhern III, is facing new criminal charges after investigators identified eight more alleged victims in a case involving secret recordings in a school changing room. Mulhern, who works at Walter Johnson High School in Montgomery County, now faces 12 counts of abuse of a minor following the discovery of videos showing a total of 12 female students in various stages of undress.
The investigation began on April 7 when two students found a video camera in the control booth of the school's theater. One student reviewed the memory card and discovered videos recorded inside the girls' changing room, prompting them to alert school administrators. Police identified Mulhern as the individual who placed the camera in the room.
Detectives executed search warrants at both the high school and Mulhern's home in Clarksburg, recovering items of evidentiary value and several electronic devices. The investigation revealed additional videos dating back to 2015, expanding the number of victims from four to twelve.
Mulhern appeared in court on the new charges, where a judge ordered his release on a $100,000 unsecured personal bond with conditions to stay away from the school and have no contact with minors, except for supervised contact with his 4-year-old son. Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy expressed heightened concerns regarding the case due to the newly uncovered evidence. Each count of abuse of a minor carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, potentially leading to a total of 300 years if convicted on all counts.