Cheerleading Coach Arrested For Hidden Camera In Studio Bathroom

ROCKVILLE, MD — A Rockville cheerleading instructor was arrested Wednesday for allegedly taking photos of children on a secret camera in the studio's bathroom, Montgomery County Police said.

Police said Cristian Gill, 21, of Blandford Street placed a camera near a sink in a unisex bathroom at Shockwave Allstars cheerleading program at 20 Southlawn Court.

Gill, a cheerleading and gymnastics instructor, was charged with multiple counts of conducting visual surveillance of another person in a private place without consent, police announced Thursday.

Police searched Gill's home and found about 49 photos that were taken in the Shockwave Allstars bathroom.

"During this investigation, several of the victims from the images have been identified. These identified victims are juvenile females and female and male adults," police said. "Some of the photographs are not of a complete person and therefore identification in these cases is difficult if not impossible. Investigators believe that the victims who are able to be identified have been identified and have been notified."

The owner of the business alerted police on Feb. 12. He said he was out of town on Feb. 9 when "an employee called him and let him know that someone had left a USB or similar device near a sink in a unisex bathroom in the studio," police said.

The owner told the employee to leave the device by the computer and that he would attempt to locate the device's owner when he returned to the business.

On Feb. 12, Gill requested a meeting with the business owner. They met in the parking lot and Gill gave the owner the device, which the other employee had left by the computer, police said.

"Gill told him that the device was a camera he had placed in the bathroom and that he never recorded anything," police said. "Gill showed him where in the bathroom he placed the camera. Gill was asked to leave the property and the owner notified the Police Department."

Detectives reviewed surveillance video and saw that Gill left the studio on Feb. 9, presumably with his camera, and did not return to the studio until he met with the owner on Feb. 12, police said.

Gill lived in Silver Spring at the time. Investigators seized several electronic devices from his home and found the photos taken in the bathroom. There were also photographs of Gill putting the camera into place in the bathroom, police said.

"Forensic analysis also revealed that there had been additional images and video files from the bathroom on the tablet but that at some point, all of the original photos were deleted from the device," police said.

A warrant was obtained for Gill's arrest on Tuesday. He was arrested Wednesday and held without bond. Gill will have bond review Thursday, police said.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call Special Victims Investigations Division detectives at 240-773-5400. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Photo via MCPD