Iowa Man Faces Nearly 100 Charges After He Allegedly Hid Camera in Porta-Potties, Filming Dozens of People — Including Children By KC Baker

An Iowa man is facing dozens of criminal charges after being accused of hiding cameras inside portable toilets at local events, authorities say.

Tyler Pavlick, 32, of Des Moines, was arrested on Wed., Oct. 15,  and charged with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor-cause to engage in act and three counts of invasion of privacy involving nudity, an aggravated misdemeanor, according to online court records.

Pavlick allegedly placed the camera under the toilet seat and surreptitiously videotaped dozens of adults and children, police said, KCRG reports.

These charges stem from a camera found in a portable bathroom on Oct. 4, at the Harvest & Handmade Fair at Water Works Park in Des Moines, WHO13 and KCRG report.

The camera filmed the faces of adults and children entering the porta-potty and their use of the toilet. Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department told WHO13.

Then, on Oct. 16, the Marshall County Sheriff’s office announced that it was investigating a similar report of a camera found in a porta-potty at the Lincoln Valley Golf Course in State Center on Sept. 23.

The West Marshall Community School District was hosting a cross-country meet at the golf course that several school districts were participating in, with male and female students in middle and high school competing, according to the sheriff’s office.

A group of event participants alerted police “to what they believed was a concealed camera,” according to the release. “The device was removed and turned over to law enforcement.”

Surveillance video was obtained that gave authorities a “partial image of a person and vehicle of interest,” according to the release.

Two weeks later, on Oct. 6, Marshall County investigators were informed by Des Moines police detectives that they were investigating a similar incident — and believed they were committed by the same person, according to the release. Digital evidence would implicate Pavlick’s alleged involvement in both cases, per the sheriff’s office.

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Pavlick was charged in Marshall County with an additional 36 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor-cause to engage in act, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor-promote film and 52 counts of invasion of privacy involving nudity, according to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, WeAreIowa.com, KCRG, and WHO13 report.

It is unclear whether Pavlick has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office anticipate bringing additional charges as more alleged victims are identified and are encouraging those who used the porta-potty near the starting line at the cross country meet to come forward and submit a tip at https://www.marshallcountysheriff.com/crime_tips/