Hidden camera captured moment tumbling coach set up device in bathroom, new court documents reveal
Update (September 3, 2025): Court documents newly obtained by ABC-7 reveal that video recovered from the recording devices allegedly left inside the Texas Bandits All-Star Cheerleading building's bathrooms show former coach Christopher Sotelo "firmly looking into the camera while manipulating" and aiming a device at the toilet.
This happened on August 22, 2025. Court documents state that approximately three minutes after Sotelo allegedly set up one of the devices, another person discovered and reported the camera. Detectives say the person who found the device alerted the cheerleading team's owner, who then called police. The person described finding "a small, black in color rectangular-shaped object" that they believed to be a hidden camera on the bottom shelf of a "3-bin tower" facing the toilet. In the building's second bathroom, the owners then found a hidden camera disguised as a pen.
The owners told detectives that their bathrooms are cleaned by staff daily, and that they had never seen the devices in the bathrooms previously.
Sotelo is charged with invasive visual recording. The Texas Bandits All-Star Cheerleading organization says Sotelo is no longer employed there.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A former coach of a local cheer team was arrested and charged with illegally recording in sensitive areas over the weekend.
An owner of Texas Bandits All-Star Cheerleading confirmed to ABC-7 that Christopher Sotelo was a tumbling coach for the team, but was fired once the recording was uncovered.
According to county jail records, Sotelo was arrested and charged with two counts of invasive visual recording on Saturday. The two charges had a bond of $15,000 per each charge, totaling to $30,000. Records show Sotelo was released on bail today.
ABC-7 obtained a copy of a letter sent by the team on the incident:
"It is with a heavy heart, we are writing to inform you all of a deeply concerning situation; we removed an individual from the organization following the discovery of unacceptable behavior involving unauthorized recording equipment. The matter was immediately reported to law enforcement, and the program is fully cooperating with the ongoing Investigation; in addition, we DID press charges which led to his arrest.
"We did receive authorization from law enforcement to disclose this, as the individual was finally located and arrested.
"The safety and privacy of athletes and families remain our programs top priority. We have zero tolerance for conduct that compromises trust and security.
"We recognize the seriousness of this matter and the concern it may cause. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation, we will not be able to give any additional details at this time.
"We understand this information may be difficult to hear and unimaginable to process. We ask if you have any questions, please refer them to EPPD as this is still an ongoing investigation.
"Thank you."
According to the Texas Penal Code, invasive visual recording happens if a person, without permission, photographs or video records "a visual image of an intimate area of another person if the other person has a reasonable expectation that the intimate area is not subject to public view" or "a visual image of another in a bathroom or changing room."
