Kids found tape that led to bowling coach's arrest

The weekend arrest of a coach from Lombard was spurred by three teenage boys finding a videotape of themselves showering while camping with 46-year-old Robert L. Lauesen.

Lauesen was charged with child pornography after the boys turned the tape over to downstate Lee County authorities Sunday.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by the Dixon Telegraph, one of the boys discovered a television hidden under several pillows and blankets in a bedroom inside Lauesen's camper at a camp site near Sublette, Ill. When Lauesen left the camper to go to a nearby grocery store the boys investigated further and discovered the videotape that showed each boy getting undressed, taking a shower and getting dressed, according to the affidavit.

The boys then called their parents who told them to take the tape and leave the trailer and find help. The boys went to a security gate and had security personnel call the sheriff's office. Lauesen was arrested shortly after 8 p.m., officials at the Lee County sheriff's office said.

Lauesen is a longtime area bowling coach and also coached youth baseball with the Lombard Baseball League for nearly two decades.

"This caught us by surprise as much as anyone else," said Ross Ludwig, a senior commissioner with the baseball league.

Ludwig said he didn't believe Lauesen had coached baseball within the last year, but he knew Lauesen had passed mandatory background checks the league had begun eight years ago and requires of managers every year. The league includes players between the ages of 6 and 23, Ludwig said. Lauesen used to coach players ages 12 to 16, Ludwig said.

Lauesen had recently been selected to serve a three-year term as president of the Elgin-based Suburban Windy City USBC. A spokesman for the United States Bowling Congress said Lauesen had been removed from that post following his arrest. The suburban chapter includes several students from state champion Lake Park High School in Roselle. Suburban Windy City officials said Lauesen had coached bowlers of all ages for roughly 30 years. Lake Park officials said Lauesen did not coach or volunteer at the school.

Lee County sheriff's officials say they think the boys on the tape were bowling students of Lauesen's.