Siloam Springs man accused of video voyeurism and possessing child porn

 Donald Ray Thele Donald Ray Thele
Donald Ray Thele Donald Ray Thele

ENTONVILLE -- A Siloam Springs man was arrested Tuesday in connection with possessing child pornography.

Donald Ray Thele, 43, was being held in the Benton County Jail with a $50,000 bond Thursday. Thele was arrested in connection with computer child pornography and video voyeurism.

Prosecutors haven't filed formal charges against Thele.

Thele's arrest was the result of an investigation by the Benton County Sheriff's Office after Lt. Greg Stevenson received a thumb drive from a concerned resident in January. Detectives discovered the thumb drive contained images of sexually explicit activities involving children ranging in estimated ages from 6 to 17, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Detectives also found Thele's tax documents on the thumb drive.

Detectives obtained a search warrant and seized multiple digital devices including a cellphone, according to the affidavit. Numerous images of child pornography also were found on the cellphone. Some of the images were stored in an application designed to hide images, videos and other file types on a phone.

Also on the phone were multiple images of a female in a bathtub taken from what appeared to be a hidden camera in the bathroom. The female didn't appear to have knowledge of the camera. She didn't pose or acknowledge the camera, the affidavit states.

Detectives found multiple images and videos of the female in the bathroom, according to court documents.

Detectives went to Thele's home and he admitted to recording the images in the bathroom. He said the female was unaware she was being recorded.

Thele's arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. June 8 in Circuit Judge Brad Karren's court.

NW News on 05/01/2015

Upcoming Events