Complaint: Beecher teacher secretly recorded underage victim

A music instructor made a video recording of a minor who was in a changing room at Beecher High School, according to a criminal complaint.

Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 16, James F. Vidmar, 44, of the 19500 block of 115th Avenue in Mokena allegedly made a video recording of the minor who was in a changing room at the high school at 538 Miller St.

Vidmar was charged with unauthorized videotaping of a victim younger the age of 18, a class 3 felony punishable by between two to five years in prison.

On Friday, Vidmar was taken to the Will County jail on a $500,000 bond. He was released on bail the next day.

Vidmar had been suspended from Beecher Unit School District 200U on Nov. 15 after district personnel allegedly discovered hidden cameras around the perimeter of the high school music room, according to a letter written by district Superintendent Bradley Cox on Tuesday.

Vidmar also was banned from the district but allegedly violated the ban and was charged with trespassing, according to the letter.

The Beecher Unit District 200U school board voted to place Vidmar on unpaid suspension.

On Nov. 28, Will County Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre signed a warrant for Vidmar’s arrest following an investigation by Beecher police Detective Andrew LeRoy.

Cox has said that Vidmar taught music at the district for 14 years.

According to Vidmar's district webpage, he served as a music teacher and assistant band director.