Police are looking for a man who was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual offenses against children after he failed to appear at his trial July 15.
The fugitive, 51-year-old Joel Frederick Deems of Cottonwood, was found guilty of 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 10 counts of voyeurism, and 10 counts of surreptitious viewing, all felonies, at a jury trial at the Yavapai County Superior Court July 15.
Deems failed to appear for his trial, so the case was tried in his absence. After the jury’s verdict, Judge Debra Phelan issued a nationwide nonbondable warrant for his arrest. Deems was arrested Dec. 18, 2016, following an incident involving multiple girls under the age of 15.
Deems had been renting a room from a family in Clarkdale for six months when the parents of the family discovered hidden cameras in their children’s bathroom. The parents reported the cameras to the Clarkdale Police Department.
Officers who went to the house located two cameras in the bathroom hidden behind a mirror and some artwork that Deems had put there “for the girls,” according to police.
During a search of the van, police discovered two pairs of children’s underwear along with two jars of Vaseline, one of which was mostly empty. They also located children’s clothing that was stuffed with carpet padding. A hole was cut in the crotch of the pants. “for the girls,” according to police. One of the hidden cameras was pointed toward the toilet and the other was facing the shower. Both cameras were connected to cables that were plugged into DVR recording devices and monitors in Deems’ bedroom as well as in a van belonging to him that was parked outside of the house.
During the search, police seized the suspect’s cell phone and laptop for forensic examination. They discovered a number of sexually explicit images of children under the age of 15 on the devices that he appeared to have for his own use.
“We have no evidence to indicate that he was selling it,” County Attorney’s Office Administrative Assistant Penny Cramer said. “He was in possession of the materials, but there’s no evidence to indicate that he was selling it or sharing it.”
While he has no prior history of crimes of this nature, Deems is facing a minimum of 100 years and a maximum of 290 years in the Arizona State Prison once he is found.
“It is not uncommon of a sentence in a dangerous crimes against children case,” Cramer said.
Police are asking the public’s help in locating Deems, who is described as white, 5 foot 11 inches tall, around 185 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
“Cases such as this shock the conscience,” Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk said in a press release. “I commend the Clarkdale Police Department and Deputy County Attorney Casi Harris for their outstanding work on the investigation and prosecution.”
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
