Sailor arrested after cameras discovered in base housing bathroom

KINGS BAY, Ga. – An active-duty sailor stationed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay was arrested Monday on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and unlawful eavesdropping, according to the Camden County Sheriff's Office.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service began looking into the incident last weekend after cameras were discovered in a bathroom of his single-family home on base. According to the arrest report, Don Torres, 34, had hidden cameras in the room and invited a friend's family over and invited their two young girls to take a bath, according to the arrest warrant.

According to the report, the girls noticed the camera hidden in a vent and told their parents, who called authorities.

NCIS recovered numerous pieces of electronic equipment in the house, including 10-15 computers or tablets, 10-15 cellphones, 5-10 cameras and several electronic storage devices. About 25 photos of the naked children were found on one of the cellphones.

The report said Torres initially tried to get rid of the pictures taken by his hidden camera and asked his wife not to report the hidden camera. The next day, he admitted capturing images and video on his cellphone while the children were bathing. He also admitted to viewing child pornography online.

The case was jointly investigated by NCIS and the Sheriff's Office. Torres is charged with two counts each of sexual exploitation and felony eavesdropping.

There have been other problems at Kings Bay, including a petty officer arrested earlier this year for exposing himself to a child and a 2014 scandal of  when a sailor was secretly photographing women officers showering on a submarine. Other sailors got in trouble for viewing that video.

The latest arrest is not sitting well with the Navy community and those who live in neighboring St. Marys.

"You are violating their privacy, and that is something that should not be done, no matter where it's at," Anna Wittrein said. 

Others recommended better background checks on Navy personnel.

"I think they need to get more control of them," Kelly Holloway said. "That's bad. That's bad for the kids."