EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – An man who once coached at a youth cheerleading gym is being accused of victimizing over 100 people he secretly recorded, including minors, with a hidden camera in a restroom.
Christopher Sotelo made a virtual appearance before Judge Antonio Aun for a bond hearing on Tuesday, October 7. He is charged with seven counts of invasive visual recording, with five of the charges stemming from new allegations made following his August arrest.
Sotelo’s attorney, Brian Kennedy, argued that Sotelo’s arrest on the new charges are unwarranted, claiming his client was picked up by El Paso police “without any new information that was discovered.” Sotelo is facing five new charges for recording people who used a restroom at the eastside cheerleading gym with a hidden camera. One of the most disturbing victims documented in the case is a 6-year-old girl, who was reportedly recorded by Sotelo between August 7 and August 23.
Kennedy argued that Sotelo is not a danger to the community nor a flight risk. He told Aun that Sotelo was working when he was arrested a second time by El Paso police. He claimed Sotelo was on top of notifying the court about his employment following the personal recognize bond he had posted after his first arrest for two counts of invasive visual recording in August.
The defense attorney requested Aun to lower the bond, saying Sotelo’s family placed their home as collateral for the initial bond.
However, Assistant District Attorney Cristina Viesca-Santos told the court that the case involves over 100 victims. She confirmed that the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office plans to present all the cases at the same time to a grand jury. “There’s going to be potentially 100 cases, your honor,” she told the judge as Sotelo who was wearing a green-and-white striped jail inmate jumpsuit sat and listened. Sotelo showed no visible reaction as the prosector argued why Sotelo’s bond shouldn’t be lowered. “I don’t know that you want to keep him on such a low bond when there’s so many cases that are going to come up,” Viesca-Santos said.
Sotelo is accused of placing a hidden camera inside a restroom at Texas Bandits All-Stars, where the camera recorded various individuals, including women, a 16-year-old female teen and a 6-year-old girl, during the summer.
In response to the prosecution’s concerns, Aun lowered Sotelo’s bond to a total of $60,000, but imposed “conditions.” Sotelo was ordered to be under intensive supervision, check in weekly with his assigned probation officer, and stay at least 200 yards away from the location where the alleged crimes took place.
The prosecutor told the judge that detectives with the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit are still investigating the case.
Sotelo was originally arrested on August 30 on the first two counts of invasive visual recording. He was released from jail the same day he was booked on a $30,000 surety bond, according to jail records.
Sotelo is currently being held at the downtown detention facility after he was rearrested for five additional counts.
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