A YMCA employee who worked in the before-and-after-school programs at a Raleigh elementary school has been accused of secretly peeping on campus.
Raleigh police arrested Kajuan Markel Haywood, 22, Tuesday on eight counts of secret peeping and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The alleged incidents occurred after hours on April 16 on the Wiley Elementary School campus, according to a message sent to parents by principal Tracy Avery on Wednesday.
The YMCA of the Triangle operates the before-school and after-school program at Wiley, on St. Mary’s Street in Raleigh. The YMCA said Haywood was a former part-time staffer.
“We have dismissed the staff member from all YMCA programs and continue to fully cooperate with the Raleigh Police Department in their investigation,” said a statement Wednesday from the YMCA. “Please know that police have identified and contacted the victims.”
Lewd images on toddler
According to the arrest warrant, Haywood is accused of using a device without consent “to create a photographic image of another person under or through the person’s clothing for the purpose of viewing the person’s body or undergarments.”
The ages of the alleged victims are not listed in the warrant.
But the warrant says the minor sexual exploitation charge involves Haywood possessing obscene images of a female toddler between 1 and 3 years old.
Haywood is being held in the Wake County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Avery said Haywood has also received a violation notice that prevents him from returning to campus.
‘Of course very disturbing’
Both the YMCA and Wiley said in their messages that they were concerned about the safety of people on campus.
“The allegations in the indictment are obviously deeply troubling,” Avery said. “Student and staff support services will be available to anyone who needs them.”
The YMCA said it has extensive child safety protocols, including requiring youth staff to undergo background checks and child abuse prevention training.
