Eastern Iowa prep sports photographer accused of soliciting ‘inappropriate’ images of minors

The founder of a high school sports photography and video service based in Marion was arrested and jailed Monday after authorities said they learned he had “solicited inappropriate photographs from two minors.”

Kameron Martelle Beets, 29, faces charges of third-degree sexual abuse, third-degree kidnapping, sexual exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation by a school employee and invasion of privacy. He was being held on $65,000 cash-only bail, Linn County Jail records show.

Authorities said Marion and Cedar Rapids police arrested Beets about 5 p.m. Monday in southwest Cedar Rapids on arrest warrants issued by a Linn County magistrate. Police said Beets owns a sports photography and personal training company called BEAST Academy, which took photos and video of athletic events across Iowa.

“Investigators believe Beets utilized his position to gain access to the minors before victimizing them,” a statement from Marion police said.

Authorities say they seized “thousands of computer images depicting high school athletes” and were analyzing them. Police said that parents who believe their child was victimized should call the Marion Police Department at (319) 377-1511.

Linn County court records show two temporary sexual abuse protective orders were issued Sept. 28 against Beets. The orders, issued on behalf of two minors, order that Beets was “restrained from committing further acts of sexual abuse or threats of abuse” and was not to have contact with either.

Records were not available Monday to show how Beets and the minors came into contact with other.

In his LinkedIn professional profile, Beets said he founded the BEAST Academy in May 2020. The company’s social media accounts show scores of photos and videos taken at prep football games, baseball games, wrestling matches and other sporting events mostly in Eastern Iowa.

Beets also says in his social media profiles the he has worked as an assistant track coach at Linn-Mar High School, but it was not clear Monday when he had left that job. A search of Linn-Mar’s website showed that the last mention of “Coach Beets” in the records available was in February 2020.