By Ryan Hutchins
The Star-Ledger
December 30, 2011
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/attorney_nj_vice_principal_acc.html
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| A sign outside Bernardsville Middle School that reserves a parking space for Patrick Lott the Vice Principal. Lott was arrested for secretly videotaping boys showering in the locker room at Immaculata High School in Somerville where he volunteered videotaping sporting events. |
An attorney for Patrick Lott, an educator and volunteer coach accused of installing recording equipment in gym showers at a Somerville catholic school, says his client is struggling to raise enough money for his bail.
Lott, the 54-year-old assistant principal at Bernardsville Middle School, is facing charges he secretly videotaped boys showering at Immaculata High School in Somerville, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday. Lott has served as a volunteer videographer and a coach at the school.
His bail, set at $500,000, is very high, his attorney, James Wronko, said today. Wronko said his client’s family is considering personal decisions and trying to determine if they can raise that much money.
“It will be very difficult if it remains at $500,000,” Wronko said today.
He declined to comment on the charges, saying he’s yet to have detailed discussions with Lott about what he’s accused of.
“Obviously, he’s innocent until proven guilty,” the attorney said.
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| Copy photo from a 2010 Bernardsville Middle School yearbook of Assistant Principal Patrick Lott. Lott is accused of secretly videotaping boys showering in the locker room at Immaculata High School. |
Lott was arrested last week after videos of nude teenagers showering were found in his home, Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said. According to the prosecutor, the videos showed teenagers in a boys’ communal shower area. Nine of the teenagers identified are under the age of 16.
Detectives later found an area near the shower where a camera had been covertly installed, authorities said.
According to a police affidavit, the recordings were made between January 2008 and Dec. 13 of this year.
Today, the Diocese of Metuchen said it was not prepared to comment further than it did Wednesday, when it issued a statement saying officials there were "greatly disturbed" to learn of the charges that led to Lott’s arrest, describing the man as a former part-time football coach and volunteer at Immaculata.
The diocese said the school learned of the allegations of inappropriate conduct and notified Somerville Police and the prosecutor’s office. Lott was immediately removed from all involvement with the high school, the statement said.
Lott has also been involved in Somerset County politics for about two decades.
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