2 men accused of secretly videotaping girls undressing at theater

VACAVILLE, CA -- A child pornography investigation led to the discovery of videos of young girls undressing in a Solano County theater.

Two men who worked at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theater for eight years are accused of secretly recording the girls. The two men are out on bail.

Management fired the staff, dance instructors, and the management company all say the feel extremely violated.

This Vacaville Community Center is a place for dance performances and plays. Theater employees and staff management were shocked to learn about some drama happening backstage.

"I keep asking myself, how did I not see it, how did I not know these things," said dance studio owner Amy Forrest-Stokes.

Dixen Dance Studio owner Amy Forrest-Stokes learned from Vacaville police that Donald Wade Junior and Thomas McPike are accused of secretly filming young girls undressing before their dance recitals.

"What we are looking at is two specific videos, that were taken in the backstage area of the theater, via cellphone," said Vacaville police Lt. Matt Lydon.

The men worked as technical personnel and police say they recorded the girls from the rafters. Our sister station, ABC7 News, spoke to Judy Barkett from Venetech Management Group. They hired Wade and McPike.

"Unfortunately, in this case, neither of these gentleman had a prior criminal record, so the typical screening would not have accomplished anything," Barkett said.

Barkett says the company will look into changes in policies and procedures.

"Everyone in our company has been frankly shattered by the breach of trust and totally inappropriate behavior," Barkett added.

The two suspects were arrested for possession of child pornography, that charge is from a prior investigation that turned up the video from the theater. The Solano County district attorney will now consider new charges.