A Rockford High School student who admitted to secretly recording boys using the locker room and bathrooms was sentenced to probation Wednesday for what the judge called “significant criminal activity for a considerable period of time.’’
Daniel Joseph Rogers, 18, took scores of images over a six-month span that ended with his arrest in March.
The investigation got underway when a classmate reported seeing sexually explicit photos of unidentified students on Rogers’ iPad, court records show.
“He admitted that he took over 100 pictures of boys in the locker room and bathrooms along with two videos,’’ Kent County Sheriff’s Detective Marcus Glover wrote in a March search warrant affidavit.
Rogers, a senior at the time, was expelled.
He pleaded guilty in April to capturing/distributing images of an unclothed person, a five-year felony and possession of child sexually abusive material, which carries a four-year term. In exchange for his pleas, two other charges were dismissed.
“I’ll admit, it was a distraction from my problems, but it didn’t make me feel any better about myself,’’ Rogers told Kent County Circuit Court Judge George Buth. “I’m really sorry that I hurt them the way I did; it was really inappropriate.’’
Rogers addressed the court for seven minutes, discussing struggles with academics, athletics and acceptance.
“For the last few years or so I’ve been struggling in school, I wasn’t doing too well grade-wise,’’ he said. “I really didn’t have very many friends. I also had issues with kids bullying me.’’
He said he’s been in counseling and is working to improve himself.
“Mr. Rogers, it sounds like you’re finally getting some of the necessary treatment at this point,’’ Buth said. “It’s unfortunate you didn’t seek it earlier. You engaged in significant criminal activity for a considerable period of time.’’
The judge placed him on probation for two years and ordered that he perform 100 hours of community service.
Buth declined to sentence Rogers under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which would expunge his record if Rogers completes probation without significant violations.
The judge warned Rogers that he faces jail and the possibility of prison if he violates conditions of probation.
Kent County deputies were called to Rockford High School in early March to investigate a child pornography complaint after school security director Scott Beckman received information that Rogers was taking photos of other students.
In an interview at his home, Rogers told investigators he took pictures and videos at the high school between Sept. 2015 and March, 2016. Rogers provided detectives with the names of four people recorded on his iPad, court records show.
“He found the above mentioned boys attractive and would hide within the boys’ bathroom/locker room waiting for the individuals to enter the bathroom and while hiding in a bathroom stall he would lay his Apple device on the ground to obtain multiple photos/videos of the individuals,’’ Glover wrote in a search warrant affidavit.
“Rogers admits to knowing some of the male subjects were under the age of 16,’’ Glover wrote.
Meanwhile, the mother of a 14-year-old Rockford student has gone to court for a personal protection order against Rogers for what she says is Rogers’ continued, unwanted contact with her son. A hearing in that case is pending.