GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A prosecutor says a Green Bay high school counselor might’ve secretly filmed dozens of women using a staff bathroom over a nearly two-year period.
Todd Naze, 54, hasn’t been charged, but a court commissioner ruled Thursday afternoon there is probable cause in the case.
Green Bay Area Public Schools says Naze has been with the district since 1992. He’s been at Southwest High School for the last 14 years. The district wouldn’t say what schools Naze worked at before then.
Investigators say the recordings started in April 2016 and ended when Naze’s wife found them on his hard drive in the spring of 2018. They say she didn’t reach out to them until Tuesday when the couple had an argument.
When detectives interviewed Naze about the recordings at Southwest, they say he had a specific explanation.
“Todd said he took the videos in an attempt to take back control of his life and he felt he had power in the office because of the way he felt he was treated after his divorce,” said Kimberly Hardtke, assistant district attorney for Brown County.
Hardtke’s probable cause statement claimed Naze provided authorities with 11 names of women he recorded. Two are Naze’s ex-wives. Authorities say both work for the school district. Hardtke says Naze claimed to have recorded more than 30 women in all.
“I’ve been informed by the Green Bay Police Department who are investigating a portion of this case that the bathroom is also sometimes used by students. We don’t know yet at this time, the investigation is ongoing, whether any students were captured.”
Investigators say Naze told them he never shared the recordings with anyone.
Naze was arrested Tuesday. School officials have placed him on administrative leave. Additional support is being provided to staff and students.
A school email has been sent to parents.
“As a precautionary measure, all Southwest bathrooms have been searched and no surveillance equipment was located in any of the bathrooms in the building. Through the investigation, video evidence was discovered, which is being reviewed by law enforcement. The police department has communicated to the District that a review of the video will be done with discretion and great sensitivity. As individual victims are identified, the police department will be reaching out to the individuals and they will be provided resources from law enforcement.”
Investigators searched Southwest’s bathrooms and Naze’s office on Thursday. They say the bathroom in question had a desk across from the toilet with a hole big enough for a small camera to record through.
“During the search of Todd’s office, two iPods were located with hook and loop affixed to them in a way that they could be mounted inside the drawer in the bathroom,” said Hardtke.
Hardtke says Naze’s wife told him on Tuesday she was taking his recordings to police. When she did, she told the detective Naze threatened to kill her and harm her three children who live with the couple.
“I will make the statement that I did not threaten to kill her,” said Naze in court.
As for the rest of the allegations, Naze says he’d like to hire an attorney. Naze was issued a $50,000 cash bond. He’s scheduled to be back in court January 13th.
The school district says police will reach out to victims once identifications are made.
