Man who filmed kids at parks sentenced

Man who filmed kids at parks sentenced

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A man faces 20 years in prison after he was caught filming underage girls at parks in Madison and Ridgeland.

The man, Satoshi Maehata, 27, of Ridgeland, pleaded guilty to two counts of filming a child under the age of 16 without permission where there was an expectation of privacy, according to Madison County District Attorney John K. “Bubba” Bramlett, Jr.

“I want to thank the MPD and RPD investigators for their dedication to solving this case and ensuring this man will not be able to violate women in our community for a long time,” Bramlett said.

He was sentenced to 10 years to serve on each count, Bramlett said. Those terms are to be served consecutive to one another for a total of 20 years in prison. He will also have to register as a sex offender when he is released.

Madison Police were informed of suspicious activity at Liberty Park, where Maehata was developed as a suspect who was recording juvenile females at the park on May 9, 2024, according to Madison Police Lt. Micah Taylor. 

Madison and Ridgeland police departments received several complaints involving a man at Liberty Park and the Renaissance offering snacks to young girls in exchange for hugs, Bramlett said.

MPD investigators began surveillance at Liberty Park and located the individual matching the suspect’s description. The suspect gave consent to search his car, where officers found a small camera disguised as a pen along with various candy and snacks.

Bramlett said investigators interviewed Maehata, and he admitted to having inappropriate videos that he took of underage girls on his computer. 

Officers performed a forensic examination of the computer and located multiple clips that appeared to show footage of females taken from under their skirts at both Liberty Park and the Renaissance.

“The facts of this case are vile and unacceptable,” Bramlett said. “Our daughters should not have to worry about someone filming under their skirts while they are at the local park or standing in line to get a smoothie. Unfortunately, we must teach our children to always be vigilant of what is happening around them and to always report suspicious behavior.”

After an extensive investigation, Maehata was arrested on child pornography charges on June 11 and the case was presented to the Madison County District Attorney’s Office, Taylor said. 






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