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Asst. Principal Patrick Lott Arrested For Secretly Videotaping Boys In H.S. Shower

SOMERVILLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork)- An assistant middle school principal and Catholic high school volunteer was arraigned Wednesday for secretly videotaping teenage boys as they showered at a central New Jersey high school, according to the Somerset County prosecutor's office.

Patrick J. Lott, 54, of Somerville, faces numerous charges, including child endangerment and invasion of privacy.

On Dec 13 and 16, members of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit obtained warrants and searched Lott's home where they seized and reviewed multiple computer files and digital recordings.

During the review of the seized files, detectives found several videos of nude teenagers showering in the Immaculata High School boys' communal shower area, according authorities.

Nine of the teenagers identified in the videos are currently under the age of sixteen. Detectives also found the area where a camera had been secretly installed for video recording. The videos were recorded for nearly three years, starting in January 2008, authorities said.

Lott was arrested on December 23 and remains in the Somerset County Jail. Bail was set at $500,000.00 cash or bond.

As a condition of Lott's bail, he is to have no contact with any child under the age of sixteen. Additionally, he is to have no contact with any victim or any Immaculata High School staff or faculty member.

According to the Lott is an assistant middle school principal who also volunteered at Immaculata in Somerville. He also was active in local and county politics, serving for a time as chairman of the Somerville Republican Committee.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact either the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit at (908) 575-3300, Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-8477, or online at www.somersetcountycrimestoppers.org.

All calls are confidential.

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