West Valley man says recording people in restrooms was 'just a thing,' charges say

WEST VALLEY CITY — A West Valley man who allegedly told investigators that recording unsuspecting people in public restrooms was "just a thing he did" now faces numerous criminal charges.

Andrew Carl Fabian Gallegos, who recently turned 18, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony; and five counts of voyeurism, a class A misdemeanor.

The investigation began in September of 2021 when police received a tip of possible child pornography being distributed on social media. The videos and pictures were traced back to Gallegos, and in October members of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force served a search warrant at his home, according to charging documents.

Gallegos admitted "he had uploaded approximately 40 to 60 files" of suspected child pornography, the charges allege.

While searching his cellphone, investigators found pictures and videos "taken in public restrooms of male individuals inside bathroom stalls without their prior knowledge or consent. When confronted with the information, Gallegos stated that it was 'just a thing he did,'" the charges state. Gallegos allegedly said the voyeuristic photos were taken at Cyprus High School and at his place of employment.

Investigators further noted in court documents that Gallegos had "many voyeuristic videos of individuals in public restrooms. The victims clearly were not aware of being recorded" and that "he also had disturbing videos he had recorded of himself in public places, such as Walmart and Lowes, where he was completely nude." In one of those videos he was committing a lewd act while walking down the aisle, the charges state.

When asked if he had ever had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor, Gallegos said he had inappropriately touched a boy under the age of 8 when he was 17, according to the charging documents.

Prosecutors say the investigation into Gallegos' interactions with children was still ongoing as of Wednesday.

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