Man accused of filming boy changing in Chelmsford HS locker faces judge

CHELMSFORD, MASS. (WHDH) - A Waltham man who was allegedly caught filming a boy who was changing in a locker room during a high school wrestling meet in Chelmsford over the weekend faced a judge on Monday.

David Menard, 54, was ordered held on $2,500 cash bail during his arraignment in Lowell District Court on charges of possession of child pornography and videotaping a nude person for a felony.

Should Menard post bail, the judge ordered that he stay away from schools, and to have no contact with children under the age of 16.

The young victim was changing in the locker room on Saturday when he noticed Menard holding a cellphone toward him, Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney said.

“He was in there changing in a state of nudity when he looked up and saw this individual about 15 feet from him, clearly holding his cellphone in video mode,” Spinney explained.

The student immediately notified adults, prompting a group of coaches to confront Menard and hold him down until police officers arrived.

When officers searched Menard’s car, Spinney says they found additional laptops and thumb drives.

“That leads one to believe that this is something of potential concern as to a regular activity by this individual, so we could be talking about multiple jurisdictions, multiple victims,” Spinney said.

Spinney also applauded the victim for reporting the incident and the quick actions of the coaching staff.

“I commend the victim for being as reactive as he was,” Spinney said. “I commend the coaching staff that took immediate action to make sure we were able to identify this person.”

Investigators do not believe Menard had any connection to the wrestling event other than as a spectator. Waltham High School was not a participant at the meet.

Menard is due back in court at a later date.

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