A Washington state lifeguard has been charged with eight counts of voyeurism after police found videos -- including some of the underaged girls -- taken in the locker room of a swimming pool where he worked.

The 25-year-old lifeguard was arrested in early September at a Redmond members-only pool. A cell phone had been found taped to the wall of a locker room that is used by female employees. Investigators traced the phone back to the man, who was the on-duty lifeguard when the phone was discovered. After searching all files on the lifeguard's cell phone and iPad, he was arrested, according to city officials.

A search of the facility turned up no other unauthorized recording devices.

The lifeguard was suspended from his job pending the outcome of the investigation. He is expected to be arraigned Oct. 17. An arraignment is an initial court appearance where the defendant is brought before a judge to hear the charges against him and enter a plea.

Police recovered nine videos from the cell phone. Dates range from June 30 to Sept. 7, the date the lifeguard was arrested. The videos show seven different females. Investigators have identified three minors in the videos who work at the pool. As of early October, investigators were still trying to identify four other victims.

Redmond police say they have no evidence that the videos were shared.

A person is guilty of voyeurism if, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person, he or she views, photographs, or films:

• Another person without that person's knowledge and consent while in a place where the victim would have a reasonable expectation of privacy; or
• The intimate areas of another person without that person's knowledge and consent and under circumstances where the victim has a reasonable expectation of privacy, whether in a public or private place.

Under the Revised Code of Washington, “intimate areas” are defined as any portion of a person's body or undergarments that are covered by clothing and intended to be protected from public view.

A location where a person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy includes any place where a person would believe that he or she could disrobe in privacy, without being concerned that his or her undressing was being photographed or filmed by another, such as a locker room.

If a person is convicted of voyeurism, a judge may order the destruction of any photographs, motion picture films, digital images, videotapes, or any other recordings of an image that was made by the voyeur.

Voyeurism is a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. If the lifeguard were convicted on all eight charges and given maximum consecutive sentences, he would face 40 years in prison and an $80,000 fine. When sentences run consecutively, it means a defendant must finish serving his or her sentence for one offense before they can start serving their sentence for another offense. Whereas when sentences run concurrently, a defendant can serve all his or her sentencing time at once. If the lifeguard were convicted on all eight charges and given the maximum concurrent sentence, he would face five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

A qualified defense attorney can help someone convicted of a crime minimize their penalty. Regardless of the circumstances, everyone charged with a crime is entitled to a good defense. If you are facing criminal charges, call the Seattle law office of Steve Karimi at (206) 621-8777 or contact him online.