Volunteer Admits Hiding Cameras in Bathrooms

(St. Francois County, MO) A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri, shows a man from Redmond, Washington, 41 year old David Lee Nelson, is facing charges of two counts of production of child pornography and two counts of attempted production of child pornography after admitting to hiding cameras in bathrooms at the S Bar F Scout Ranch in St. Francois County. The report indicates Nelson admitted to hiding the cameras in July of 2021 while working there as a volunteer. One camera was discovered when a scout leader and scouts were cleaning out one of the restroom stalls. A search uncovered another camera, and leaders then called the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department. As part of his plea agreement, Nelson has agreed to forfeit computers, tablets, hard drives, other storage devices and two digital cameras that were seized during the investigation. Nelson is scheduled to be sentenced April 25th. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release of up to life. Both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of between 15 and 22 years in prison.