Third District Judge Richard Mrazik has dismissed 10 second-degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor against 59-year-old Bogdan Badiu, a tennis professional living and working in Deer Valley.
Park City Police arrested him July 23 after officers discovered dozens of images of a child later determined to be a relative. He was charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Badiu told authorities he did not know the images were considered child pornography, according to charging documents.
Police seized the phone in late June while investigating Badiu in a separate case. Evidence technicians with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office reviewed the device and saw the photos. Several of the images were cropped, and a new case was opened in July.
Police obtained a warrant to examine Badiu’s car and home for digital evidence. Local law enforcement also coordinated the search with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program.
Badiu went to retrieve his cell phone from the Park City Police Department in late July when he was escorted to an interview room. Badiu agreed to speak with investigators.
He admitted to taking multiple photos of the child with his phone and police said Badiu claimed the photos were not malicious. Some of the photos were also sent by or to other family members. Badiu also told police his mom explained he shouldn’t have the photos on his phone, the report said.
“The pictures on Mr. Badiu’s phone were of his daughter, they were age appropriate and they were not sexual in nature,” said Cliff Venable, Badiu’s defense attorney. “The photos are not child pornography. Mr. Badiu’s life was upended by the filing of these charges. He lost his job, he suffered irreparable harm to his reputation in the community, and he wasn’t allowed to speak to his daughter for over three months while the case was pending. He is a good person who is passionate about tennis and cares deeply for his daughter.”
The ICAC Task Force also determined there were similar images on Badiu’s computer. Badiu said one computer contained all of the images, while another computer had many other backups because he didn’t want to lose his family photos.
Badiu worked as a “long-time” tennis coach at the Solamere Oaks Swim and Tennis Club, according to the Homeowners Association website.
On Friday, Nov. 8, state prosecutors appeared in court and motioned to dismiss the case. Mrazik granted the motion, and Badiu’s passport was returned to him in court. The judge also ordered that Badiu’s ankle monitor be removed.
This article was updated on Thursday, Nov. 14. Summit County Reporter Eva Herinkova contributed to this report.