Ex-Middle School Custodian Put Hidden Cameras In Students' Locker Room, Staff Bathroom

A 38-year-old former middle school custodian has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from videos that authorities said were captured by hidden cameras the man placed inside a girl's locker room and a female staff bathroom at schools in Vancouver, Washington.

James Mattson, a former custodian at Alki Middle School, entered a guilty plea during a court appearance Friday, KOIN 6 News reported.

He was charged with 137 voyeurism counts after authorities said he put hidden cameras in the girl's locker rooms of Alki and the female staff bathroom at Skyview High School.

The videos authorities found date back as early as 2013, according to officials.

Despite Mattson's submitted pleas, the Clark County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) said the investigative work in the case will continue.

"From our perspective at the Sheriff's Office, there is still investigative work to be done, and they are going to continue working through that; both combing through some of the digital forensic evidence that they have and then working to identify victims," Sgt. Chris Skidmore of CCSO said, according to Fox 8.

Skidmore said that a big question they still need to address is how victims will be identified and notified.

"Our intent is certainly not to re-victimize or bring people through this trauma. And they'll do it in such a way that any images are completely sanitized ... and that would be handled by an absolute minimum number of people as possible," he added.

In a video message, the Vancouver Public Schools superintendent informed parents that law enforcement requested the district's assistance in helping to identify victims using facial images. This process has not yet begun.

Following Mattson's court appearance, a spokesperson for the district told KOIN that they "are in the process of consulting with the Clark County Sheriff's Office to determine what the appropriate next steps will be. We will continue to support our students and staff with counseling resources and other services."

Officials said more charges may come as the investigation continues.

A search of both schools did not find any active hidden cameras. But the district said that it is continuing periodic searches of restrooms and locker room spaces and reviewing potential prevention methods for the future.

Mattson was arrested on Oct. 12 and was booked into the Clark County Jail on the 137 first-degree voyeurism charges.

According to a search warrant obtained by KOIN, it was Mattson's live-in girlfriend who first reported the tapes to authorities.

The unnamed woman came across them when she walked by the computer room and noticed that Mattson's computer was open. She found a video in his files showing an underage child getting dressed in a locker room.

Mattson is set to appear in court on Dec. 20 for a pre-sentencing hearing.