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Former Rockford rowing coach accepts plea deal for recording students undress

Posted at 10:41 PM, Sep 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-20 23:31:44-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A former Rockford rowing coach accepted a plea deal admitting that he secretly recorded high school athletes changing in locker rooms.

Timothy Vallier agreed to plead guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. He signed the plea deal September 19.

Federal court documents show that between January 2012 and April 2016, Vallier produced 86 videos of minors undressing in two locker rooms: the Rockford High School rowing team’s boathouse and the Rockford Freshman Center. He was arrested in July after a video camera was found in the rowing team’s SUV. The camera contained video shot between two small holes drilled into the changing room at the boathouse.

Vallier will turn over his recording and digital storage materials, includig a Samsung camera, a GoPro camera, a tablet, a laptop, and two hard drives. He will also register as a sex offender.

Vallier also agreed to pay restitution to all the victims shown on camera. That amount will be determined at his sentencing.