New Charges for Man Who Allegedly Made Sex Tapes of Exchange Students

Michael Scott Scheeler, the Lower Milford Township man accused of secretly videotaping underage foreign exchange students in his home, will now face additional charges.

A press release from the Lehigh County District Attorney's office confirmed that four additional victims--one adult and three minors--have been added to the original criminal complaint. But unlike the original three, none of the new victims were living with Scheeler at the time. However, according to a statement from Deputy District Attorney Anna-Kristie Morffi, "all four had been videotaped without their consent."

According to the press release, the new charges include six additional counts of "sexual abuse of children, felonies of the second and third degree." Court documents show 21 additional counts of invasion of privacy.

Scheeler appeared in Coopersburg court Feb. 23 before District Judge David Harding, where he waived his preliminary hearing. His arraignment will be held April 4 at the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown.

Scheeler was the host parent for three students attending Faith Christian Academy in Sellersville, Bucks County. He provided the students with room and board. The students are identified in the criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause by initials only because of their ages.

According to authorities, one of the students saw a video of another student on Scheeler’s laptop computer and later found folders that had his name and the names of two other students on the same laptop.

One of the students reported the discovery to a Faith Christian Academy school administrator.

Investigators say they subsequently found 57 DVD media storage units in a locked pouch. Also allegedly found were wiring used to connect video and audio equipment in the ceiling of Scheeler's house and four miniature cameras that recorded from different angles. The DVDs were examined and found to contain videos of the three original victims.

According to the press release, Morffi said the additional victims "were identified as a result of a continuing investigation."

Correction: Michael Scott Scheeler's arraignment is scheduled to be held April 4 at Lehigh County Courthouse. An earlier published version of this story indicated that his trial would begin on that date.