(Council Bluffs, IA) -- A Council Bluffs man accused of secretly recording young boys in the bathroom of his home makes a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Wednesday afternoon, 51 year old Thomas Boatright pleaded guilty this afternoon to four counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. Prosecutors say Boatright had a camera set up in the bathroom of his home, and would record teenage boys who were in the United States as part of a foreign exchange program. Boatright was the coordinator of the program helping line up the students with host families. He also hosted two boys himself.
There are four victims identified by federal prosecutors.
One of the boys told investigators Boatright gave them alcohol to play beer pong and then gave them pills only later did they learn the pills are used to treat erectile dysfunction. The foreign exchange student then noticed a bathroom phone charger that had a hidden camera in it pointed towards the toilet.
Thomas Boatright hasn’t been out of jail since his arrest a year ago and is expected to be sentenced in June. When sentenced, Boatright will spend, at minimum, 10 years in prison.
(Photo by WOWT 6 News)