A former youth swimming coach was arrested Monday after allegedly filming teenage girls undressing in an Arizona locker room.
David Laudati, 41, was taken into custody by U.S. marshals in Connecticut and charged with 11 counts of voyeurism and eight counts of attempted voyeurism after police discovered creepy recordings of Laudati during a September 2023 investigation in the Grand Canyon State.
Officials said the perverse scheme came to light in September 2023, when a parent of one of Laudati’s swimmers reported to police that the coach had been spying on female students after practice in Buckeye, Arizona, where Laudati lived before moving to Connecticut.
The 14-year-old girl was changing out of her swimsuit after a training session with her Arizona Dolphins club team when she noticed a camera in the bathroom at the Center on Main recreation facility. According to Buckeye officials.
Authorities allege Laudati placed a recording cell phone in a mesh pocket of his backpack and placed it on a changing table so he could see what was going on in the locker room.
The discovery led to a search of Laudati’s home, where “several photographs of underage females partially or fully nude were found in the bathrooms at the Center on Main and in the locker rooms at Litchfield Park Recreation Center.”
Police said three of the victims were between 14 and 17 years old.
At the time Laudati allegedly committed his disturbing crimes, he was the coach of the Arizona Dolphins and Millennium High School in Goodyear.
He was suspended from his high school teaching position in September 2023 and then fired due to the ongoing investigation, according to the Agua Fria School District.
“This situation highlights why our district continues to prioritize safety.
As the new school year begins, we will continue to diligently adhere to our policies and practices to protect our students.
“We are grateful to our students,” Superintendent Mark Islas said in an email to parents.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families as they navigate this difficult situation.
Out of respect for those involved, please approach this matter with compassion and consideration.
information.”
After a months-long investigation, Laudati was indicted by a grand jury on July 16.
He appeared in New Britain Superior Court on Tuesday, where a judge set his bail at $75,000. He is awaiting extradition to Arizona.
“These are serious charges,” the state’s attorney said. “The defendant currently faces 19 felony charges in the state of Arizona.”
The Arizona Dolphins did not respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
His former employer, the Mandel JCC of Greater Hartford, He told NBC News “This individual left in 2019 for a new job in Arizona and was last employed by Mandell JCC. We are not aware of any wrongdoing during his tenure. Our number one priority has been and remains the safety and well-being of our community,” the statement said.
