An employee at a sporting goods store in Lynchburg has been arrested for allegedly putting a recording device in a dressing room for women.
Derek Lee Beard, 26, of Lynchburg, was identified as a suspect and detained on March 14 when the investigation began after a customer reported the device at Dick’s Sporting Goods on Candlers Mountain Road.
He was charged later the same day with unlawful filming.
After further investigation, Beard was arrested on Tuesday and charged with:
- Creation of an unlawful image of another (felony)
- Production of child pornography (felony)
- Use of a computer to commit sexual crimes against children (felony)
- Possession of child pornography (felony)
- Creation of an unlawful image of a minor (felony)
Beard was found guilty of a similar charge of filming a person nude for an offense dating back to August 2021. He was sentenced to 30 days in prison with the entire sentence suspended for the Class 1 misdemeanor, according to online court records.
His next court hearing is scheduled for May 22 in Lynchburg General District Court.
Evidence shows that the unlawful recordings may have been happening for several months at the retail store, and detectives are working to identify other victims.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional charges are possible.
Individuals who used the dressing rooms at this location of Dick’s Sporting Goods between March 13-14 are asked to complete an online victim identification form.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective G. Brown at (434) 455-6132.
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Crystal Graham
