Workman gets life terms for child porn, spying on girls

A work man accused of hiding cameras in several homes to spy on young girls was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison plus nearly 150 years by a judge who said she would have him castrated if the law allowed.

“We're here because of the choices that you and you alone made,” Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo told Ryan Aaron Alden. “The devastation that you caused these families may never be known.”

Alden, 39, of The Village, pleaded guilty in June to 28 felonies that included aggravated possession of ob scene material involving minors, manufacturing child pornography and using video equipment in a clandestine manner. Prosecutors alleged that Alden placed hidden cameras in the ceiling vents of four homes in Edmond, Nichols Hills and Oklahoma City. He reportedly placed the cameras in the bedrooms, bathrooms and closets of the homes while performing electrical work.

Two of the cameras were still in the vents when the investigation began in October 2018, Assistant District Attorney Merydith Easter said.

“The sense of peace and security that he stole f rom these people is something that is long-lasting for them,” Easter said. “The amount of people that he affected by his actions is overwhelming.”

Alden was also accused of taking clandestine photos of girls in numerous public places, including gyms, schools, stores, mall changing rooms and a high school football game.

Wednesday's hearing lasted more than two hours and included emotional testimony from several parents whose teenage girls were victimized by Alden.

“The day we found out what he did to our children, I could not breathe,” one parent said. “It took several days for us to try to make sense of what had happened. Our daughters were confused, they were afraid, they were ashamed. We did not know how to protect them.”

Defense attorney Chris Sloan argued that while what his client did was wrong, his actions didn't justify spending the rest of his life in prison because he didn't touch any children. He asked for a 10-year prison sentence and probation.

A detective specializing in digital forensics who assisted prosecutors with their case testified the child pornography found on five computers and two phones belonging to Alden was “some of the worst I've ever seen.”

Edmond Police Sgt. Jason Kushman said he spent a minimum of 640 hours examining the devices, adding the photos and videos he saw could fill a dozen “spindles” of DVDs.

Alden kept his head bowed for much of the hearing and apologized for his actions when given the opportunity.

Said Palumbo: “If the law allowed me to have you cast r at ed, I would. Because I think that that would begin to help solve your problem.”