A man accused of posing as a police officer to lure children into his home and film them undressing has been arrested.
David Morris Richards, 54, allegedly carried a badge, gun and fake police lights in his car.
Prosecutors say Richards posed as an officer for almost 20 years and that even his own children believed that was his job.
Richards was arrested on August 8 after police in his hometown of Orem, Utah, investigated suspicious activities involving nine girls, all under 12 years old.
'Without getting too graphic, he would give them a lot to drink so that they would have to use the restroom,' said Orem Police Sgt. Craig Martinez.
'That's where a lot of the photos and videos were taken.'
Utah County prosecutor Craig Johnson says Richards also allegedly had sex with the girls, according to a local TV station.
Police said a search of Richards' house unearthed videotapes of children undressing and using the bathroom.
'We found videotapes (from) up to three years ago, depicting some of this bizarre behaviour that he's videotaping in his bedroom,' said Mr Johnson.
Richards had been charged by state prosecutors, who subsequently dropped their charges so that a federal sexual abuse case can be brought against him.
If convicted, Richards faces a minimum 15 years in prison.
20 years
