The Herald Bulletin

July 29, 2010

California man allegedly admits to filming Indiana girls

Police investigating whether child porn suspect videotaped in Anderson

By Christina M. Wright
The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — A California man admitted Thursday that he used a hidden camera to film unsuspecting teenage girls in a southern Indiana city, Anderson Police Department spokesman Sgt. Bill Casey said.

Police are investigating whether he filmed girls in Anderson, as well.

Rodger W. Suits, 50, is being held on a $15,000 bond at the Madison County Jail with preliminary charges of Class D felony child exploitation (possession of child pornography).

Casey said Suits told officers that CDs they found containing images from a mall and restaurant were filmed secretly in Greenwood, “where he concealed a (camera in a three-ring) binder. ... He secretly took video of young girls.”

Casey said officers responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle in the 1600 block of Scatterfield Road about 4 a.m. Thursday. They found Suits in a 2000 Nissan with California plates, Casey said.

“Police became very suspicious when he took a pillow to cover up a notebook that was in plain view,” Casey said.

Suits consented to a search of the vehicle, Casey said, and officers found a notebook with websites referencing young teenagers, nude photos and CDs — one of which he agreed to play for officers on his personal computer.

That CD and others contained images of “girls appearing to be less than 16 years old,” Casey said. Police also found a three-ring binder with a hole cut out of it, apparently for a camera, that Suits later admitted to using in Greenwood, the spokesman said.

Casey said Suits told police he was waiting for a fitness center to open when police found him. Suits told police he moved from Glendora, Calif., to Anderson in April and is homeless.

Casey said Suits told police some of his collection was downloaded from the Internet and he knew some of the girls were too young to consent.

Suits is not listed on the California and Indiana sex offender registries.

Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@heraldbulletin.com.