Skip to Content

Former gym coach indicted after recording device found in bathroom

KTVZ

Click here for updates on this story

    CARTHAGE, Tennessee (WSMV) — A Smith County cheerleading coach was indicted on 12 counts surrounding his arrest for allegedly putting a recording device in a bathroom at a gym in Smith County.

Andrew Halford, 33, was indicted earlier this week by the Smith County Grand Jury.

The Smith County Sheriff’s Department said Halford, an instructor at Smith County Elite Cheerleading and Gymnastics, confessed to putting a backpack with a GoPro camera in the bathroom on Jan. 14. He told business owners that he captured a video of the victims changing clothes.

The sheriff’s department confirmed a man was arrested for putting a recording device in a bathroom at a cheerleading gym in Smith County and could be connected to a similar incident.

Halford also worked as a coach at Premier Athletics in Franklin. A camera was found inside a girls’ changing and restroom at Premier. It contained videos of 60 females, mostly minors. Franklin Police detectives believe the suspect had been intermittently staging the camera to capture video in the restroom since September 2020.

The grand jury indicted Halford on three counts of attempted especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, three counts of attempted aggravated unlawful photographing of a minor, three counts of unlawful photography in violation of privacy and three counts of attempt to commit especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor.

Franklin Police have identified the 55 victims who were videotaped inside a changing and restroom inside a Franklin gym, according to a news release.

Franklin Police said Thursday its investigation has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office for review.

Halford is being held at the Smith County Jail.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: National & World

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content