MORGANTOWN – According to a Friday press release, the Morgantown Police Department has obtained arrest warrants for Lance Parks, a physician who previously worked at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Parks has been charged with eight misdemeanor counts of Criminal Invasion of Privacy and one felony count of Distribution and Exhibiting Computer Generated Child Pornography.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
On Friday, June 26, hospital employees discovered a digital recording device concealed beneath a sink inside a staff restroom. Hospital personnel immediately notified law enforcement, and the device was turned over to investigators.
Following an examination of the recording device and additional investigative efforts, law enforcement identified physician Lance Parks as the individual who placed the recording device. Investigators also determined that the device contained video footage depicting eight hospital employees who had been unknowingly recorded while partially nude.
Law enforcement contacted all eight individuals.
On June 30, investigators executed a search warrant at Parks’ residence. During the search, law enforcement seized multiple computers and digital storage devices for forensic examination.
The investigation has since revealed additional evidence, including files containing images of juvenile females that appear to have been downloaded from publicly available social media and photo-sharing websites. The investigation turned up numerous images in which artificial intelligence was used to manipulate photographs so that the depicted juveniles appeared to be fully nude.
Detectives are continuing to examine the seized electronic devices to determine the full scope of any criminal conduct and identify all victims.
The Morgantown Police Department, the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office and J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital are working to notify all victims as they are identified.
The investigation remains active and no additional information is available at this time.
“We are grateful to the Morgantown Police Department and the Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office for their prompt work in bringing charges in this case,” a WVU Hospitals Spokesperson said. “This has been tremendously traumatic and disturbing for our employees, and our commitment to them has always been to provide them with a workplace in which they feel safe, respected, and supported.”
The WVU Hospitals response continued.
“Similarly, we remain deeply committed to providing our patients with the highest quality and safest care possible. The actions of one ill-intended individual will not drive us off that course, nor do they define the work of the thousands of employees who come to work every day in support of the people who entrust us with their care. We will continue providing whatever information and evidence we can to law enforcement and the Prosecutor’s Office to ensure justice is served swiftly and appropriately.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Morgantown Police Department, Detective Division.
