LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Dozens of parents are upset and angry over the charges a Lee’s Summit soccer coach faces in federal court with producing child pornography.
Forty-year-old Joel White is accused of secretly videotaping pre-teen girls in the nude at his home — some of those victims were members of his soccer team. In addition to being a coach, FOX 4 has learned White was also a popular DJ and photographer who was involved in dozens of events involving young children.
A federal prosecutor said White set up a knee-level hidden camera inside his Lee’s Summit home capturing girls younger than 12 years old changing clothes.
On his website promoting his professional business, Adid DJ Entertainment and Photography, there are hundreds of photos — many at Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s. In fact, FOX 4 has learned he even had some booked for this weekend.
Some of the parents, most who didn’t want to go on camera, say they are sickened by the news and desperate to find a replacement for their party.
Another DJ in town, Rich Linden, said he has fielded more than two dozen of those panicked phone calls.
“It’s just sad. Its sad that this would happen. I don’t expect it. You never expect it,” Linden said. “It’s really scary when you think of this. You know, I have had parents tell me, they had him in their home. He was there talking to their kids and you just never know.”
Linden calls events like this personal and emotional and moments you can never get back.
“I told a parent today, you have to follow your gut. If anything, whether it’s a photographer for your event, whether it’s a DJ for your kids, or a coach… if your gut tells you there’s something wrong there, you should just listen to it no matter what.”
Linden says it’s important to do reference checks, even background checks, on people you hire and bring into your home.
White did pass a background check. In 2007, White was charged with trying to secretly videotape a woman inside a tanning salon, which was later amended to trespassing. The soccer league said his background check came out in the “clear.”
White remains in federal custody.